U.S. News & World Report ranks Lenoir-Rhyne College first in state in its category

Lenoir-Rhyne College has once again been ranked first in the state in its category by U.S. News & World Report in its annual America’s Best Colleges issue.

The rankings, released Aug. 18, 2006, place the college 11th in the South in the category Best Comprehensive Colleges – Bachelor’s. This category includes 320 colleges and universities, ranked in four different geographical regions. These colleges focus on undergraduate education and offer a range of degree programs in the liberal arts as well as professional fields such as business, nursing and education.

The ranking is based on several factors, including peer assessment, number of classes with fewer than 20 students, student-faculty ratio, percent of faculty who are full-time, the academic qualifications of its entering freshmen, and the average alumni giving rate. At Lenoir-Rhyne, 63 percent of classes have fewer than 20 students and only 1 percent has more than 50. There is an average of one faculty member for each 13 students. Seventy-seven percent of L-R faculty members are full-time, usually an indication of better mentoring of students. In the freshman class of 2005, 46 percent were ranked in the top 25 percent of their high school class.

Dr. Wayne Powell, college president, said: “We are very pleased that Lenoir-Rhyne is once again recognized as the number one North Carolina college in its category. Our listing as 11th in the South is consistent with our aggressive agenda to be a nationally recognized liberal arts college of choice. We are not surprised by the recognition since Lenoir-Rhyne places the student first. Our faculty are master teachers, dedicated first and foremost to helping students learn. Our staff are all part of a community that is here to assist in the personal development of the students. We believe this personal commitment makes a difference.”

Other North Carolina colleges in the same category as Lenoir-Rhyne, and their ranking, include: High Point University, 15th; Wingate University, 19th; Catawba College, 23rd; Peace College, 35th; Mars Hill College, 38th; and Brevard College, 46th.

The magazine containing the rankings will be available at newsstands on Monday. The rankings are also available online at www.usnews.com .

©2006 Lenoir-Rhyne College