DATE:   August 21, 2008
MEDIA CONTACT:   Melanie McDonald, director of media relations
PHONE:   574-284-4579
E-MAIL:   mmcdonal@saintmarys.edu

Another "Best College" Ranking for Saint Mary's College

NOTRE DAME, Ind.--"The Princeton Review" names Saint Mary's College as a Best Midwestern College for 2008. This comes just on the heels of a national ranking by "U.S. News & World Report." The Princeton Review's rankings are based on two categories of criteria:   standards for excellence and student opinion data, collected via a survey posted on The Princeton Review Web site.

The Princeton Review's "Best Colleges: Region by Region" section of princetonreview.com identifies colleges that "stand out as academically excellent institutions of higher learning," according to the Web site. The publication's standards for excellence are based on admissions selectivity, fire safety, academics, financial aid and quality of life. Colleges on the list were also required to allow The Princeton Review to survey students anonymously. That survey includes more than 70 questions asking for feedback about topics such as campus life and academics.

Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, women's institution offering five bachelor's degrees and more than 30 major areas of study. Saint Mary's College has six nationally accredited academic programs: social work, art, music, teacher education, chemistry and nursing. Founded in 1844, Saint Mary's is a pioneer in the education of women, and is sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross.

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