GRANVILLE -- Denison University jumped 10 spots to be included among the latest "Top 50" list of U.S. News & World Report's annual ranking of America's "Best National Liberal Arts Colleges," on newsstands this week.

The magazine's annual "America's Best Colleges" guide for 2001 includes Denison 's No. 42 ranking among its "Top 50" tier of 162 national liberal arts colleges. Denison shares its slot with Centre College in Kentucky, Furman University in South Carolina, Lawrence University in Wisconsin and Wheaton College in Illinois. Two other GLCA Ohio colleges placed in the Top 50 list: Oberlin at 23 and Kenyon, tied at 29.

The new ranking shows Denison with 52 percent of its freshman (in 1999) in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating classes -- up from 41 percent the previous year. Denison's acceptance rate of 69 percent was down from the previous year's 76 percent (signifying greater selectivity) and alumni giving improved to 43 percent, up from 37 percent, thus attaining No. 44 ranking overall in that category.

In other statistical measures, U.S. News ranked Denison's faculty resources at No. 47, selectivity at No. 60 and financial resources at No. 69, overall.

Among the national liberal arts colleges, the magazine assigned Denison a 69.0 overall score (out of 100) and 3.3 academic reputation score (out of 5.0). With an 84 percent average freshman retention and graduation rank, Denison ranked as No. 58.

See the complete 2001 rankings online at U.S. News & World Report.

For press inquiries:

Name

Barbara Stambaugh

Position Title

Director, Media Relations

Primary Email

stambaughb@denison.edu

Business Phone

(740) 587-8575