Coastal Carolina University ranked in Forbes America's 'Best Colleges' list

CCU

Coastal Carolina University has been ranked in the top 15 percent of the nation's four-year undergraduate institutions in "America's Best Colleges 2009," compiled by Forbes and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity (CCAP).

"This is the first year that Coastal Carolina University has been included in this list, and we're very excited to be on it," said President David A. DeCenzo. "It indicates that notice is being taken of the excellence of this institution and how far we've come in our relatively short history." Six hundred colleges and universities are on the list, including 14 South Carolina institutions of higher learning. Coastal Carolina is 600 in the rankings.

"It is important to note that if a school appears on this list at all, that indicates a certain level of quality…" states the report from Forbes.com. "The CCAP ranks only the top 15 percent or so of all undergraduate institutions."

The rankings are based on the quality of education provided, the experience of students and how much they achieve.

"To our way of thinking a good college is one that meets student needs," the report states. "While some college rankings are based partly on school reputation as evaluated by college administrators and on the amount of money spent, we focus on things which directly concern students. Will my course be interesting and rewarding? Will I get a good job after I graduate? Is it likely I will graduate in four years? Will I incur a ton of debt getting my degree?"

This is only the second year that Forbes has been ranking colleges and universities. The methodology includes the following criteria:

Listing of alumni in the 2008 Who’s Who in America (25 percent); student evaluations of professors from ratemyprofessors.com (25 percent); four-year graduation rates (16 2/3 percent); enrollment-adjusted numbers of students and faculty receiving nationally competitive awards (16 2/3 percent); average four year accumulated student debt of those borrowing money (16 2/3 percent). Private and public colleges are ranked separately.

For more information or to view the list, go to www.forbes.com/2009/08/02/colleges-university-ratings-opinions-colleges-09-intro.html.