Feature Stories

Share this Story

VWU Featured in The Princeton Review Book, The Best 384 Colleges - 2019 Edition

Virginia Wesleyan is included as one of the nation's best institutions for undergraduate education

News Release | August 8, 2018

Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU) is one of the nation's best institutions for undergraduate education, according to The Princeton Review in the company’s newly released 2019 edition of its college guide, "The Best 384 Colleges" ((Penguin Random House / Princeton Review Books, $24.99) available August 7, 2018.  The Princeton Review (www.PrincetonReview.com) is an education services company known for its tutoring, test-prep courses, books, and other student resources. It is headquartered in New York and not affiliated with Princeton University.

One of The Princeton Review’s most popular guides, The Best 384 Colleges rankings are based on surveys of 138,000 students at 384 top colleges that includes a wide representation by region, size, selectivity and character. Published annually since 1992, the book has detailed profiles of the colleges with rating scores in eight categories as well as ranking lists of top 20 schools in 62 categories. For more information on the rankings and methodology, visit www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings/how-it-works.

"We picked the 384 'best' colleges for our book primarily for their outstanding academics; we highly recommend each one," said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review's Editor-in-Chief and the book's lead author. "However, we know applicants need far more than an academic rating or ranking to find the college that will be best for them. We created our 62 ranking lists to help narrow that search. They are based entirely on data we gather beyond academics that gives insight into what the schools' enrolled students say about their professors, administrators, school services, campus culture, and student life. In the end, it's all about the fit.”

In its profile on Virginia Wesleyan University, The Princeton Review praises the institution for being "the quintessential small liberal arts university, providing undergraduates with a close-knit community where one can easily build strong relationships.” The Review quotes extensively from VWU students that the company surveyed for the book. Student’s comments include: "The professors seem to genuinely care about their students and are approachable outside the classroom.” A current student surveyed added “I have never met a faculty so invested in my own personal success. Professors go above and beyond to ensure that every student understands the material and they make lifelong connections with students.”