Elon ranked in top 15 in new U.S. News college guide

ELON COLLEGE – Elon College is ranked 15th among 123 Southern regional college and universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2000 America’s Best Colleges rankings, which were released today. It is the highest ranking the college has ever received in the annual rankings.

Elon has climbed steadily in the rankings over the past five years, rising from 39th in 1996 to 20th in 1997, and moving from 19th place in 1998 to 16th in last year’s rankings.

“The ranking is a tribute to the outstanding commitment and dedication of faculty members in providing a top quality education to our students,” said President Leo M. Lambert. “It is gratifying that others are recognizing that Elon is defining something distinctive in higher education.”

The guide’s rankings are determined by specific statistics in these general categories: academic reputation, student retention, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving rate.

Elon and other top ranked colleges and universities nationwide will be listed in the U.S. News & Report magazine, which goes on sale Monday.

Other colleges and universities in the top 15 are: University of Richmond, Hollins College, James Madison University, Stetson University, Mary Washington College, Samford University, Loyola University New Orleans, the Citadel, Mercer University, Wheeling Jesuit University, Centenary College of Louisiana, College of Charleston, Converse College, Meredith College and Appalachian State University.

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