(Posted September 11, 2006)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- The weekly news magazine U.S. News & World Report rated Juniata College 95th in the first tier of its 2006-2007 rankings of the best liberal arts college in the nation, according to the publication\'s issue \"America\'s Best Colleges.\" Juniata jumped five places from its ranking of 100 last year. \"Juniata continues to climb in the ratings, making a jump from 100 to 95 and we are committed to improving our success,\" says Thomas Kepple, president of Juniata College. \"Our programs and reputation are registering with opinion-makers across the country who acknowledge our quality of education.\" According to guidelines established by the Carnegie Foundation and adopted by U.S. News, institutions that award at least 50 percent of their undergraduate degrees in liberal arts are defined as liberal arts schools. There are more than 200 liberal arts colleges, comprising four tiers. Juniata rated 80th in another 2006-2007 college rankings poll created by Washington Monthly magazine. The new poll, now in its second year, emphasizes service by college students in addition to other ranking criteria. Juniata was rated 83rd in last year\'s poll. Juniata also is one of just 40 colleges featured in the increasingly popular college guide book \"Colleges That Change Lives,\" by former New York Times education editor Loren Pope. Pope\'s book, which was just updated in a new edition this year, was highlighted in a recent issue of Time magazine. Juniata also was chosen as one of the nation\'s best institutions for undergraduate education, according to the Princeton Review, the New York-based company known for its education, admission and test-prep services. Juniata is one of 361 institutions featured in the 2006 edition of the Princeton Review annual college guide \"The Best 361 Colleges.\" The college has an enrollment of 1,450 students and has a student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1. The college has 94 full-time faculty members. About 92 percent of the faculty have earned doctorates or hold a terminal degree in their academic field.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.