Media release from Berry College:
U.S. News & World Report has ranked Berry College No. 1 for “best value” and for “best undergraduate teaching” among universities in the South.
Berry ranked second overall in the South, which consists of 13 states and territories. More info: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges .
The “best value” ranking reflects the college’s successful LifeWorks program and focuses on affordability. The program guarantees students up to eight semesters of paid, hands-on professional development experience. To assist with affordability, Berry awards more than $60 million in financial aid, with 100% percent of undergraduates receiving financial aid.
The “best undergraduate teaching” category focuses on schools where faculty and administrators are recognized for teaching undergraduates effectively. Berry is known for its 12:1 student-to- faculty ratio, allowing students to receive personal attention in and out of the classroom. The institution also focuses on providing a wide network of lifelong mentors and advisors to students for help in their professional and academic paths.
Berry was ranked eighth in the U.S. for “service learning” and continues to be among the top 40 universities for “first-year experience.”
“It is exciting to see continued external validation of our unique educational mission,” Vice President for Enrollment Management Andrew Bresette said. “Berry partners with every student to craft a one-of-a-kind journey through their four-year college experience. Our faculty and staff mentors challenge, inspire, and support every student as they become the best version of themselves.”
Nationally among all colleges and universities, Berry was ranked 8th for “service learning” and continues to be among the top 40 universities for “first-year experience.”
Factors that directly relate to social mobility, graduation and retention rates, graduate indebtedness, graduate earnings compared with earnings of high school graduates and graduation rate performance, have a total weight of more than 50% in the ranking methodology, far outweighing any other factor in the rankings.
The U.S. News rankings are based on a formula that uses statistical measures of academic quality, such as graduation rates, social mobility, graduate indebtedness, faculty information and admissions data. 20% of the rankings are based on expert opinion, determined by a peer assessment from top academics at U.S. colleges.
“When you add the eight semesters of paid professional development through our LifeWorks program on top of the outstanding intellectual exploration in the classroom it’s no wonder our graduates are in demand,” Bressette said.
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