Pacific Union College Continues to Rank Among the Nation's Best

For the ninth straight year, U.S. News & World Report ranked Pacific Union College among the top ten western comprehensive colleges. Of western comprehensive colleges in California, PUC ranked number two.

The national magazine releases its 2002 rankings to newsstands on September 10, 2002, in the “America’s Best Colleges” issue. Significantly, U.S. News continues to name PUC in its top ten list of “Best Values” among liberal arts colleges in the Western United States.

According to U.S. News, PUC’s strong rankings are based in part on academic reputation. Many of PUC’s departments average above the 90th percentile in standardized achievement tests, and of all universities and colleges in North America, PUC has one of the highest medical school acceptance rates. Furthermore, PUC’s rankings are based on high graduation rates.

The western comprehensive region covers 14 states from Oklahoma to California. PUC was compared to other four-year colleges in this region that do not offer graduate degrees.

“This ranking illustrates a continuing recognition in the broader world that you can have a strong faith-centered college and also be seen as offering an excellent academic program of great value,” says PUC President Richard Osborn. “Pacific Union College will continue to explore ways to become an even more excellent Christian college.”

Many of the strongest colleges in the U.S. News survey are faith-based schools which are increasingly attractive to students who want safer campuses and the freedom to learn in a Christian environment.

Pacific Union College, founded in 1882, is a four-year, liberal arts college located in Angwin (the north end of the Napa Valley). The college is affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church and enrolls approximately 1,600 students each year.