Swarthmore Tops Princeton Review's 100 "Best Value Colleges" List for the Second Year in a Row

by Nancy Nicely
1/12/2010

Clothier Bell Tower

Swarthmore College has been named the "Best Value Private College for 2010," according to the Princeton Review and USA Today. This is the second year in a row in which the College has been recognized with this distinction.

"During a time when so many families are struggling to make ends meet, it's gratifying to be able to offer a first rate college education to all students, regardless of their economic circumstances," said Swarthmore College President Rebecca Chopp. "Our longstanding commitment to need-blind admissions is one of our most enduring values, and helps create the diverse, dynamic student body that we seek at Swarthmore."

The Princeton Review selected its "Best Value" choices for 2010 based on surveys of administrators and students at more than 650 public and private colleges and universities. The selection criteria covered more than 30 factors in three areas: academics, cost of attendance, and financial aid, using the most recently reported data from each institution from the 2008-09 academic year.

Said Robert Franek, Princeton Review SVP/Publisher, "Among the nearly 16,000 respondents to our 2009 'College Hopes and Worries Survey,' of college applicants and parents, 85% said financial aid would be 'very necessary' for them this year. However there are many first-rate institutions offering outstanding academics at a relatively low cost of attendance and/or generous financial aid, including some that may surprise applicants. We're pleased to have again teamed up with USA TODAY to identify and commend the 100 colleges that do just that and do it best in the nation."

The College was featured in a segment on the Today Show and in USA Today, among other media outlets.