Alderson-Broaddus College has been named one of the Best Baccalaureate Colleges in the South in the 2008 edition of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S.News & World Report.  A-B’s rank of 18^th shows marked improvement over last year’s 29^th place ranking. The institution was also ranked 5^th in the South in the category of “Great Schools, Great Prices.”

“We are again honored to have been named a South region top tier college in ‘America’s Best Colleges’ by U.S.News & World Report,” said Stephen Markwood, Alderson-Broaddus College President. “We are especially pleased with our movement from 29^th last year to 18^th this year,” continued Markwood.

In the Best Baccalaureate Colleges category, statistics for Alderson-Broaddus show that the college scores among the highest in the South with regards to average freshman retention rate (76%) and is next to the highest in percentage of classes that have less than 20 students (83%).

A-B was also honored in this year’s edition by its fifth-place ranking for Baccalaureate Colleges in the South in the “Great Schools, Great Prices” category – the only West Virginia school to be ranked. This high placement indicates that A-B students are receiving a great value in relation to the cost of attendance. Only schools ranked in, or near, the top half of their categories are included.    

“Our higher academic peer score and freshman retention rate is visible acknowledgement of the devotion and talent of our faculty and staff,” stated Markwood.

Using a proprietary methodology, the annual U.S.News & World Report rankings represent the most comprehensive look at how schools stack up based on a set of 15 widely accepted indicators of excellence, allowing consumers to evaluate and compare data compiled from more than 1,400 accredited four-year schools.

For more information on the America’s Best Colleges 2008 Rankings, log on to www.usnews.com.