For Immediate Release						Sept. 6, 1996
 
Lawrence University Education "Third Best Value" Nationally According to 
U.S. News & World Report College Guide
 
 
APPLETON, WIS. Q Webster's international dictionary describes value as
"relative worth; degree of excellence."  One of U.S. News & World Report's 
definitions of value is a Lawrence University education.

In its upcoming 10th annual report of "America's Best Colleges," U.S. News &
World Report identified and ranked the nation's top colleges in a variety of
categories, including those that were considered the best value for the money. 
In the "best value" category, Lawrence is ranked third among national liberal
arts colleges in terms of the cost to the average student and the quality of
the education provided.  It's the third consecutive year Lawrence has been
ranked among the top 14 in the national best value category.  Lawrence is the
only Wisconsin college ranked among the nation's top 30 institutions in the
best value category. 

During the 1995-96 academic year, Lawrence distributed more than $11 million of
financial aid to 78% of its students.  Lawrence students received financial aid
awards worth an average of more than $10,400 last year.  

In the "best colleges" category, 160 of the roughly 1,600 four-year colleges in
the country were identified as being among the best liberal arts colleges
nationally.  Lawrence is ranked in the upper half of the best national liberal
arts colleges. 

"We've long believed Lawrence offers students the best of both worlds Q one of
the nation's best educations and at an affordable price," said President
Richard Warch, "and it's gratifying that U.S. News and World Report in its
annual guide confirms our belief.  The success and life-long benefits enjoyed
by our students and alumni serve as testament to the true value of a Lawrence
education." 	

Swarthmore College of Pennsylvania is ranked first in this year's best colleges
category, while Wabash College of Indiana received the top ranking in the best
value category ahead of Lawrence and Grinnell College.  

U.S. News & World Report's  best value rankings are designed to provide a
realistic measure of where students can get the best eduation for the money and
its rankings relate the cost of attending an institution to its quality.  The
best college rankings are determined by a variety of factors, including
selectivity, financial resources, graduation rates, faculty resources and
alumni satisfaction, among others.