For the third year in a row, Vaughn College has again been ranked among the top regional colleges in the North.  In rankings released earlier this month,U.S. News & World Report again recognized Vaughn in its 2012 survey of the best regional colleges from Maine to Maryland.

“Vaughn’s commitment to delivering a high-quality and personal educational experience for all of our students is paying off as reflected by the rankings, but exhibited by our student’s achievements,” said President Dr. John Fitzpatrick.  “As we continue to enhance our learning environment, degree programs and resources we are adding more value to a Vaughn education and helping each student attain individual success.”

In this year’s survey, Vaughn ranked first in economic diversity and campus ethnic diversity. Only a few colleges and universities in the entire country have an equal or higher diversity ranking including Stanford University, City College (CUNY), Rutgers and the University of Houston. Vaughn is a federally designated Hispanic-serving institution.

The College also received high rankings for the least debt upon graduation (ranked 7th out of 30 schools), and its freshman retention (11th out of 60 schools).  “We are extremely proud to be ranked the most economically and ethnically diverse school in our category and as one of the top colleges in these categories nationwide,” Fitzpatrick stated.  “In these tough economic times, it is wonderful to see our students leaving school with practical degrees that make them highly employable, with relatively little economic debt.”

U.S. News & World Report began its annual rankings of American colleges and universities in 1983. As in years past, it used more than a dozen indicators to score its 2012 choices, including undergraduate academic reputation, faculty resources, student selectivity, graduation rates, freshman retention rates and alumni giving. Rankings were based on a weighted evaluation of all categories.

In Vaughn’s North category were more than 70 regional colleges, defined as those schools that concentrate on undergraduate education and award fewer than half their degrees in liberal arts. Among the schools in Vaughn’s group were Cooper Union and the United States Coast Guard Academy.

See the entire U.S. News & World Report 2012 survey at www.usnews.com/colleges.

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