Saint Mary's College was named one of the best colleges or universities in the Midwest by the Princeton Review in their latest region-by-region summation of institutions.
The Princeton Review recognized 158 colleges as being the "Best in the Midwest," marking the seventh year the education services company has profiled colleges and universities on a regional basis.
Saint Mary's has been recognized among the Midwest schools every year in the regional profiles.
The Princeton Review does not rank the colleges or universities but rather provides a listing of schools that have been distinguished based on their independent research.
The research behind the recognition includes campus visits, institutional data and recommendations of independent and high school advisors from hundreds of schools in each region,Princeton Review's vice president of publishing Robert Franek said.
The Princeton Review also surveys students, and their responses play a major role in the selection of the top regional schools.
"We also take into account what each school's customers - their students - report to us about their campus experiences at them on our 80-question student survey," Franek said.
Saint Mary's College President Carol Ann Mooney is delighted to have been recognized by the company for the seventh year in a row.
"We are very pleased to once again be listed in the Princeton Review," Mooney said. "Our commitment to an excellent intellectual and academic experience for our students is unwavering. Our graduates are our best recruiters. Their accomplishments speak volumes about the quality of the educational experience they received here."
Saint Mary's students are proud of their school's recognition although they said there were other perks that drew them to the school.
"It's exciting, but I don't think a ranking would have changed my mind. I liked the tradition and the liberal arts education of Saint Mary's," junior Mary Beth Gizinski said.
Junior Ellen O'Brien agreed, saying that Saint Mary's nationally recognition was like "icing on the cake."
