University of Richmond ranked at new high in top tier of "Best Liberal Arts Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report
August 22, 2008
University of Richmond has moved up to No. 33 in U.S. News & World Report's 2009 rankings of "Best Liberal Arts Colleges," a jump of seven spaces and the university's highest rank since being placed in the highly competitive category in 2006.
The magazine also has named Richmond to several special lists, including "Great Schools, Great Prices" for high academic quality relative to price paid, "Schools to Watch" for innovative, promising changes to academics, faculty, students, campus or facilities, and "Programs to Look For" for outstanding academic quality linked to student success.
Factors contributing to Richmond's higher ranking included a record year for admission applications and increasing scores for academic reputation, faculty resources, financial resources and graduation rates.
U.S. News groups American colleges and universities into four categories: best national universities, best liberal arts colleges, best universities–master's (by region) and best baccalaureate colleges by region. The 265 colleges in the liberal arts category "emphasize undergraduate education and award at least half their degrees in the arts and sciences."
Richmond moved into the prestigious liberal arts category in 2006, where it has been annually ranked in the top tier. Previously, it had been ranked No. 1 in the South for 11 straight years in the best universities–master's grouping.