CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) rank among the best in the United States, according to U.S. News and World Report's 2000 edition of "America's Best Colleges," issued Aug. 30. When compared with other public and private institutions, 17 of the ELCA's 28 college and universities are considered to have high academic standards at affordable costs.
For six consecutive years Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Pa., is ranked first among liberal arts colleges in the northeastern United States. The college also appears in a top 10 list of "Great Schools at Great Prices," where it is ranked 10 among regional liberal arts colleges in the northeastern U.S.
"We are pleased that Susquehanna has been noted in this way again this year," said Dr. Joel J. Cunningham, president of Susquehanna. "This is a welcome recognition for Susquehanna's faculty, students, staff, alumni and friends, who all contribute to the success of the university."
"It is heartwarming to see so many fine Pennsylvania colleges highly noticed," said Cunningham.
The ELCA's Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa., was also ranked in the top national liberal arts colleges, second tier, as were three other ELCA institutions: Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pa.; Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn. and St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.
"There are many excellent colleges and universities beyond those on these lists, so I would urge college-bound students and their parents not to rely too heavily on college rankings," said Cunningham. "A campus visit is still the best way to determine whether a college's people and programs are a good match with a student's interests."
U.S. News and World Report ranks colleges and universities according to their academic reputation, retention of students, faculty resources, selection of students, financial resources, alumni giving and graduation rate performance (the difference between the proportion of students expected to graduate and the proportion that actually does). According to the magazine, the indicators include input measures that reflect the quality of students, faculty and other resources, and outcome measures that signal how well the institution does its job.
ELCA colleges and universities ranked among U.S. News and World Report's
"America's Best Colleges":
Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill. --- www.augustana.edu
Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D. --- www.augie.edu
California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, Calif. --- www.clunet.edu
Capital University, Columbus, Ohio --- www.capital.edu
Carthage College, Kenosha, Wis. --- www.carthage.edu
Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. --- www.cord.edu
Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pa. --- www.gettysburg.edu
Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn. --- www.gac.edu
Luther College, Decorah, Iowa --- www.luther.edu
Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa. --- www.muhlberg.edu
Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wash. --- www.plu.edu
Roanoke College, Salem, Va. --- www.roanoke.edu
St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn. --- www.stolaf.edu
Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Pa. --- www.susqu.edu
Texas Lutheran University, Seguin, Texas --- www.txlutheran.edu
Wagner College, Staten Island, N.Y. --- www.wagner.edu
Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa --- www.wartburg.edu
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
