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STEUBENVILLE, OHIO—������ tied for 11th out of 165 Midwest universities in the 2019 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings. It was Franciscan’s highest ranking since its first appearance in the elite top tier division in 1998. Last year, Franciscan was ranked 19th.

U.S. News evaluates colleges and universities using 16 measures of academic quality. Franciscan’s rise in the rankings was due to high scores in several categories:

• • ������ was recognized by academic administrators at other universities for its academic excellence, resulting in an increased reputation score.
  • ������ received a favorable score in a new category that considers the awarding of federal Pell Grants to lower income recipients who successfully complete their college education.
  • Franciscan’s six-year graduation rate was ranked second in the Midwest, and its freshman retention rate was ranked seventh, demonstrating that once students start at Franciscan, a high percentage of them stay until they receive their diploma.
  • In a separate category of “Best Value” schools in the Midwest, ������ ranked 15th, meaning Franciscan is an excellent value when factoring in the costs and benefits received from its educational mission.

“We are grateful that ������ is recognized by U.S. News & World Report among the 15 best Midwest universities, and that Franciscan was so favorably evaluated by university presidents and deans at other institutions,” said Father Sean O. Sheridan, TOR, president of ������. “The results demonstrate the effectiveness of our mission, which combines academic excellence in a passionately Catholic environment, and educates, evangelizes, and sends forth our alumni as joyful disciples of Jesus Christ.”

You can read more about U.S. News & World Report’s Best College rankings at www.usnews.com/best-colleges.

Founded in 1946 in Steubenville, Ohio, by the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular, ������ of Steubenville offers associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees in 70 programs of study including liberal arts, professional, and pre-professional studies in an academically excellent and passionately Catholic learning environment. For more information, visit www.franciscan.edu or call 1-800-783-6220.