U.S. News Ranks McKendree Among Top Regional Universities With Least Debt
Lebanon, Ill. — U.S. News & World Report’s 2013 “Best Colleges” edition ranks McKendree University among the top five Midwest
regional universities whose students graduate with the lowest amount of debt.
The list examines the debt load of the class of 2011 and includes loans taken out
by students from their colleges, from private financial institutions and federal,
state and local governments. Average amount of debt refers to the cumulative amount
borrowed by students who incurred debt. For McKendree’s class of 2011, that amount
was $19,581.
“As an independent institution we are committed to making McKendree affordable for
all students,” said Dr. James Dennis, McKendree University president. “We are very
generous with financial support and are proud to be recognized for ensuring that our
students graduate with minimal debt.”
Overall, McKendree also rates in the top quarter of all 625 participating institutions
in the Regional Universities category nationwide. McKendree continues to be a Top
Tier 1 institution among the Best Regional Universities in the Midwest. U.S. News defines institutions in this category as offering a broad scope of undergraduate degrees and some master’s degree programs. Schools are rated against their peer group in the North, South, West or Midwest
because they generally draw most students from within their own region.
“We’re proud to be recognized in this category along with other fine universities
such as Creighton, Butler, Drake, Valparaiso and Xavier,” noted Dennis. “These results
affirm our belief that McKendree offers a high quality education compared to many
other institutions in our region, including some that are considerably larger.”
The 2013 U.S. News Best Colleges guidebook examines how accredited four-year institutions nationwide
compare among up to 16 widely accepted indicators of excellence. Among many factors
weighed in determining the rankings, the key measures of quality are: peer assessment,
graduation and retention rates, class size, faculty resources, student selectivity,
financial resources and alumni giving.
Over the past two decades, the U.S. News rankings have become a comprehensive tool for students and their parents in their
search for the right college or university.
The exclusive rankings are available online Sept. 12 at usnews.com/colleges, and
will be published in U.S. News & World Report, on newsstands Sept. 18.
McKendree University is also listed as a College of Distinction, one of “America’s
100 Best College Buys,” and a G.I. Jobs magazine “Military Friendly School” for 2012. To learn more about McKendree University,
visit the website mckendree.edu.
-McK-
