For the third time in the last four years, Swarthmore was awarded first place in The Princeton Review's annual list of "Best Value Private Colleges." The College ranked second in 2012.

"We believe that higher education should contribute to an individual's academic, social, and personal development," says Swarthmore College President Rebecca Chopp. "Our combination of academic rigor and innovation, our high-quality and dedicated professors, and access and aid policies for all students ensure our ability to provide opportunities to students who will flourish here and make important contributions to the world."

The Princeton Review chose its "Best Value" schools from analyses of data collected from an initial list of 650 institutions it identified as having excellent academics. The final list features 150 schools nationwide and is based on analyses of more than 30 data points collected across three primary areas: academics, cost of attendance, and financial aid. In addition, surveys of students attending the schools were reviewed and considered. Students shared assessments of their professors, their academic experiences, and their satisfaction with their financial aid awards.