National rankings cite Assumption’s strengths Assumption advances nine spots in U.S. News & World Report ranking Assumption advanced an impressive nine spots on this year’s U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Regional Universities” list. The College is ranked 23rd among nearly 200 regional universities in the North that offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees. “Assumption is once again pleased to be recognized by the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Guide, as we pride ourselves on providing students with a valuable Catholic, liberal arts education that offers a strong foundation for their futures,” said President Francesco Cesareo. “Assumption strives to offer our students a strong and challenging curriculum, along with well-rounded, hands-on experiences both inside and outside the classroom, which they are encouraged to pursue through unique opportunities such as studying at our Rome, Italy, campus, engaging in an internship, or volunteering for a myriad of service projects in the Worcester community. These experiences, steeped in the liberal arts and Catholic intellectual tradition, form our students into service-minded individuals who are prepared and eager to utilize the knowledge and skills they have gained to contribute to their communities and make a meaningful difference in society upon graduation.” The U.S. News & World Report rankings for regional colleges and universities are based on several key measures of quality: peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving.
One of The Princeton Review’s “Best 381 Colleges” For the third consecutive year, Assumption was named one of the “Best 381 Colleges,” by The Princeton Review, a nationally recognized education services company, which also ranked Assumption one of the “Best Regional Colleges” in the Northeast region. Assumption is featured in the 2017 edition of The Princeton Review’s annual college
guide, which was released in August. The Princeton Review bases its rankings on students’ ratings of their schools which also determines inclusion in the book. The lists in the 2017 edition are based on The Princeton Review’s survey of 143,000 students (about 375 per campus, on average) attending the colleges. The 80-question survey asks students to rate their schools on several topics and report on their campus experiences. Topics range from assessments of professors as teachers to opinions about their school's library, career services, and campus life.
College and Catholic College of Distinction Assumption has been awarded the 2016-17 Colleges of Distinction and 2016-17 Catholic Colleges of Distinction honors for providing innovative, teacher-centered undergraduate education and preparing its graduates for real-world success. The 2016-17 Colleges of Distinction list includes 335 schools in the U.S., of which only 19 are located in Massachusetts. While commercial rankings rely heavily on an impersonal, quantitative evaluation process, Colleges of Distinction place emphasis on the often overlooked factors of great teaching and successful outcomes. In evaluating schools, Colleges of Distinction asks the question, “What colleges are the best places to learn, to grow, and to succeed?” In doing so, it goes beyond traditional ranking models that assess colleges based on things like historic prestige, selectivity, athletic prowess, and the size of its endowment. Colleges of Distinction recognizes the hundreds of smaller, teaching-centered colleges that make up the fabric of the American educational system, schools that deliver well the four overreaching distinctions: engagement, teaching, community and outcomes – the fundamental elements of an effective undergraduate education.
Assumption College Magazine
Fall 2016
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