Mars Hill College has placed 35th among the best regional colleges in the South on the U.S. News and World Report 2012 “American’s Best Colleges” rankings, which were released today.

Although this is the eighth time that Mars Hill College has made the U.S. News rankings, a reorganization of the college categories for 2012 makes a year-to-year comparison difficult.

In the 2011 rankings, Mars Hill ranked 29th in among the best baccalaureate colleges in the South. The 2010 position was 36th in the same category. Earlier ranks were 35th in 2009 and 32nd in 2008. Prior to 2008, Mars Hill College was listed in the “comprehensive colleges” category.

Over the past two decades, the U.S. News “America’s Best Colleges” ranking has grown to be one of the most comprehensive research tools for students and parents considering higher education opportunities. School grouping are based on the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching’s highly respected Basic Classification. Consistent with the Foundation’s recently announced changes, U.S. News reorganized its categories for the 2012 rankings.

In explaining its rating system, U.S. News admits that “the host of intangibles that make up the college experience can’t simply be measured by a series of data points.” With that in mind, the rankings provide “an excellent starting point,” for students and parents who are looking for the best academic value for their money.

Among the criteria measured and quantified for the best regional colleges category were: peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving.

Mars Hill College is a private, liberal arts institution offering over 30 baccalaureate degrees and one graduate degree in elementary education. Founded in 1856 by Baptist families of the region, the campus is located just 20 minutes north of Asheville in the mountains of western North Carolina.www.mhc.edu 1-866-MHC-4-YOU.

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