OBU Still 'Best in West' According to Princeton Review
Oklahoma Baptist University has again been named one of the best colleges and universities in the western United States by The Princeton Review. OBU was one of 123 institutions recommended in the "Best in the West" section on the educational research firm's Web site feature, "2010 Best Colleges: Region by Region," posted on July 27.
"We chose Oklahoma Baptist University and the other terrific schools we recommend as our 'regional best' colleges primarily for their excellent academic programs," said Robert Franek, Princeton Review's vice president for publishing. "We choose the schools based on institutional data we collect from several hundred schools in each region, our visits to schools over the years, and the opinions of independent and high school-based college advisors whose recommendations we invite. We also take into account what each school's customers - their students - report to us about their campus experiences at them on our 80-question student survey."
OBU has been included in the "Best in the West" listings for five consecutive years.
The Princeton Review survey for this project asks students to rate their own school on several issues - from the accessibility of their professors to the quality of the campus food - and answer questions about themselves, their fellow students and their campus life.
"Oklahoma Baptist University is pleased to once again be recognized by The Princeton Review for our commitment to excellence in academics and campus life," said OBU President David W. Whitlock. "We're especially pleased the ratings reflect the opinions of OBU students and independent college advisors. As we near the centennial celebration for our university, we look forward to even greater days ahead on Bison Hill."
According to PrincetonReview.com, production of the regional designation feature "is fueled by a desire to raise awareness of academically excellent but lesser-known colleges for students looking to study within a specific geographic area."
OBU is one of five Oklahoma schools receiving the merit, among the 123 colleges honored in the 15-state region. Oklahoma Christian University, Oklahoma State University, Oral Roberts University and the University of Oklahoma also made the list.
The Princeton Review designated 218 colleges in the Northeast, 141 in the Southeast, and 158 in the Midwest as best in their locales. The 640 selected colleges represent about 25 percent of the nation's 2,500 four-year colleges.
Information on The Princeton Review's "Best Colleges: Region by Region" can be found at http://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings.aspx.
The Princeton Review is known for its tutoring and classroom test preparation courses, books, and college and graduate school admission services. Its corporate headquarters is in Framingham, Mass., and editorial offices are in New York City. It is not affiliated with Princeton University, and it is not a magazine.