U.S. News names Shepherd the top-ranked W.Va. public baccalaureate institution

ISSUED: 22 August 2008
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
(U.S. News names Shepherd the top-ranked W.Va. public baccalaureate institution)

Shepherdstown, WV--Shepherd University is the top-ranked West Virginia public baccalaureate institution according to U.S. News and World Report's America's Best Colleges rankings.

The rankings, which were released today, places Shepherd 40th for the category of Best Baccalaureate Colleges in the South. Shepherd moves up five places from last year's ranking, due in part to the peer assessment score which rates the academic quality of institutions as evaluated by peer institutions.

This ranking comes on the heels of Shepherd University being named earlier this month as a Best in the Southeast college by the Princeton Review for the fourth year in a row.

"This external validation of Shepherd's growing reputation as a premiere public liberal arts university is greatly appreciated," said President Suzanne Shipley. "We provide the highest quality undergraduate experience at an affordable price. It is rewarding to enjoy West Virginia's highest ranking among the public baccalaureate institutions, as well as Virginia schools in this category."

U.S. News bases the rankings on peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, and alumni giving.

Best Baccalaureate Colleges by Region total 319 and are divided by North, South, Midwest, and West. There are 95 colleges and universities in the South category. Baccalaureate colleges are defined by U.S. News as institutions which focus on undergraduate education and offer a range of degree programs in the liberal arts, which account for fewer than half of their bachelor's degrees, and in professional fields such as business, nursing, and education.

-30-OWENS

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