Contact:  Rick Peterson, Manager of News Services, 920/832-6590
For Immediate Release
Sept. 1, 2000

Lawrence University Retains Ranking Among Nation's Best by U.S. News &
World Report

 
     APPLETON, WIS. -- The best known of the myriad of college ranking
guides annually released this time of the year has once again included
Lawrence University among its list of the nation's best national liberal
arts colleges.
             U.S. News & World Report's 14th annual report of "America's
Best Colleges" ranked Lawrence 42nd among 160 national liberal arts colleges
in its "best colleges" category.  This is the third time in the last
four years that Lawrence has earned a spot in U.S. News' top-ranked
category. 
     Lawrence was the highest-ranked school in Wisconsin among all
national-category colleges and universities, with the exception of
UW-Madison, which was ranked 35th among national universities.
     Amherst and Swarthmore colleges were ranked first and second,
respectively, among the national liberal arts colleges, reversing their
respective positions from the previous year's rankings.
     "Lawrence University has long been recognized among the premier
liberal arts colleges in the nation," said LU President Richard Warch,
"and having U.S. News reaffirm that is certainly nice, but frankly, we
don't put much stock in these rankings.  What is more important is the 
quality of students Lawrence continues to attract and the quality of 
education we provide them." 
     In its popular annual guide, U.S. News divides 1,600 of the
nation's public and private four-year schools into national -- those
recognized as among the most prestigious and academically selective in
the entire country -- and regional geographic groups and ranks those
institutions based on a variety of weighted criteria, including student
selectivity, financial resources, graduation rates, faculty resources
and alumni satisfaction, among others. 
	In its rankings, Lawrence also was cited by U.S. News as one of the 
nation's "best values."  Lawrence was ranked 19th by the magazine among 
national liberal arts colleges based on a ratio of quality of education 
to price.  It's the seventh consecutive year Lawrence has been ranked among 
U.S. News' top 20 educational values. It was the only Wisconsin institution 
ranked among the top 25 in terms of value in either the national college or 
university categories.    
	During the 1999-2000 academic year, Lawrence distributed more than $18 
million in financial aid to 87% of its students.  The average need-based 
financial aid package for students totaled $18,821 in the past year. 	
	U.S. News also ranked institutions in several specialized categories.  
Lawrence tied for 12th among national liberal arts colleges in percentage of 
international students with seven percent of its student body coming from 
foreign countries. 
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