UM ranks among top 371 colleges

The University of Montana once again is listed among the top four-year colleges and universities in North America by the Princeton Review.

The 2010 edition, “The Best 371 Colleges,” was released July 27. The rankings are based on surveys of more than 122,000 undergraduate students. The 80-question survey asks students to rate their school on several topics and report their campus experiences. Top schools, including UM, received a two-page profile with student comments.

“We are especially gratified that this ranking results from our student body,” said UM President George Dennison. “This recognizes the dedication of our faculty and staff to provide an outstanding educational experience at The University of Montana.”

This year’s report quotes students as saying, “academics at UM are facilitated by great instructors.” Another said the University “really encourages internships, studying abroad and community service.” Students also praised the larger community, saying, “Missoula is a very accepting town. People don’t have to fit in here; they simply are who they choose to be.”

The school profiles also have ratings based on data collected by the Princeton Review during the 2008-09 academic year. On a scale of 60 to 99, UM received an 83 for “Quality of Life.” UM also received a 96 in the “Green” category which measures a school’s commitment to environmental policies, practices and education.

Only about 15 percent of the nation’s four-year colleges and two Canadian colleges made “The Best 371 Colleges” list.
Complete listings are online at http://www.princetonreview.com.