Knox among "Top Schools" in 2008 Rankings

Knox College shows consistent strength in the newly released annual college rankings from The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report.

In The Princeton Review, Knox is named one of the nation's 366 Best Colleges. The Princeton Review also named Knox a national "Best Value College" -- an "overall bargain, based on cost and financial aid, among the most academically outstanding colleges in the nation." Knox and 160 other schools are also ranked by Princeton Review as "Best Midwestern Colleges."

In U.S. News, Knox is ranked 80th among more than 260 colleges in the National Liberal Arts classification.

"A lot of colleges worry excessively over the rankings," said Karrie Heartlein, director of public relations for Knox College. "We look at the data very closely, but we don't worry whether we've gone up or down a spot or two in the rankings. We focus on the facts that go into the college experience for our students."

The percentage of classes with fewer than 20 students increased for the second year in a row, from 65% two years ago, to 66% last year, to 67% this year. The first-year student retention rate of 88% also is an increase from last year's 87%.

?We prefer to focus our attention on giving Knox students good opportunities for research, for off-campus study, and for community service. These are the things that make Knox special -- these things don't go into the rankings,? Heartlein explained.

The Princeton Review rankings also named Knox 10th in the nation for "Best College Radio Station? and 15th in the categories "Students Happy With Financial Aid" and ?Best College Theater.? The specialty ranks are determined by student surveys conducted during the previous fall term.

?It's clear that students recognize Knox's fun, student-centered campus environment,? Heartlein explained. ?They value the educational experience Knox has to offer as well as the great variety of extracurricular activities." Heartlein added.

"Students need good information to guide them, but they should choose a college that fits them, challenges them and offers the programs they want," Heartlein said. "The rankings can't tell them that.?

"Even the most detailed data can't capture everything about a college, so we also strongly encourage students and families to visit campuses and evaluate colleges on the points that are most important to them."

U.S. News and Princeton Review rankings are available in print and on each publication's website.

Founded in 1837, Knox is a national liberal arts college in Galesburg, Illinois, with students from 46 states and 50 nations. Knox's 'Old Main' is a National Historic Landmark and the only building remaining from the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates.

• US News rankings for 2007-08 are based on data in several categories, including:
• Academic reputation: 3.0 on a five-point scale, 5 is highest
• First-year retention rate: 88%
• Graduation rate: 76%
• Classes size: 67% under 20, 1% over 50
• Full-time Faculty: 91%
• Alumni giving rate: 33%

• Princeton Review rankings for 2007-08 also feature student comments, including:
• Knox "allows students to do what they want, but expects rigorous academic performance as well as maturity in return."
• Student organizations present "a lot of programming to keep students busy: speakers, readings, comedians, trips, bands, etc."
• Campus diversity: "At Knox, you can find someone totally like you or totally opposite you. All at a school that only has 1,200 students."