KU News Release

KU education is a bargain, says Princeton Review

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas is one of the best values among the most academically outstanding colleges in the nation, according to the Princeton Review’s Best 366 Colleges.

KU also ranked on lists of best 366 colleges; best Western colleges; and Colleges With a Conscience, a list of 81 schools recognized for outstanding community involvement.

“Each school in this book is a ‘best’ when it comes to academics,” said Robert Franek, the author of the annual publication. “But as anyone visiting colleges can attest, their campus cultures and offerings differ greatly.”

The Princeton Review’s rankings are based on students’ responses to 80 questions about their schools’ academics/administration, campus life, student body and themselves. Students surveyed for the book said KU offers “the full college experience (through) many amazing research opportunities, supportive faculty and strong academics, as well as a great social scene.”

The university’s spot on the list of America’s Best Value Colleges reflects the school’s ranking as an overall bargain, based on cost and financial aid. According to the Princeton Review, 36 percent of freshmen receive need-based financial aid.

Earlier this month, U.S. News and World Report ranked KU 38th among 164 top national public institutions. KU’s schools of business and engineering also ranked in the top 50 among public schools.

KU is the only Kansas school in the 2008 edition of the Fiske Guide to Colleges. The recently released guide ranks KU as “strong” in architecture, business, journalism, engineering and film/television.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.