#96-09-02
For Release: 9/5/96
Contact: Peter Bailley

Knox College in Galesburg has been ranked fifth in the country as a "Best Value" among national liberal arts colleges in the newly released U.S. News & World Report survey of quality and price in higher education. Knox was ranked eighth in the nation in the same survey last year, and 16th the year before. The U.S. News Best Values rankings were released Thursday, Sept. 5, and will be distributed to newsstands on Sept. 16.

Also on Thursday, U.S. News released its annual "Best Colleges" ratings. Knox's academic reputation was rated 63rd among 160 national liberal arts colleges-the highest showing in academic reputation for any Illinois school in the group. Knox was also ranked 63rd in academic reputation last year. The reputation data is based on a survey of college administrators. The U.S. News Best Colleges issue will be available at newsstands on Monday, Sept. 9.

"Knox College is pleased to get these two high rankings," said Knox president Rick Nahm. "They confirm again that Knox offers one of the best educations-and one of the best educational values-in the nation."

Knox's fifth-place national ranking in the Best Values "discount price" survey took into consideration both academic quality and the average cost to students receiving need-based financial aid. Tuition, room and board and fees at Knox this year are $20,949, but 80% of Knox students receive financial aid, averaging more than $11,000. U.S. News also issued "sticker price" rankings based on academic quality and tuition, not including financial aid. According to Celeste James of U.S. News, "the discounted price is more relevant for most private schools."

In addition to academic reputation, the Best Colleges survey includes data on academic quality of the faculty and student body, graduation rate, financial resources and alumni support.