Virginia Tech Scores High In Latest Princeton Review College Rankings
Tuesday, September 11, 2012 / Bookmark & Share
BLACKSBURG, Va., Sept. 11, 2012 – Virginia Tech is making the grade across a range of criteria – from academics to quality of life and in between – in The Princeton Review’s 2012 college rankings lists.
The Princeton Review surveyed 122,000 students at 377 colleges and universities to rate their schools in more than 60 categories. The top 20 schools for each category are available online and in the book "The Best 377 Colleges."
Virginia Tech ranked in the top 20 in six categories. Of those, four scored in the top 10.
No. 2 – Best Campus Food
No. 3 – Their Students Love These Colleges
No. 4 – Town-Gown Relationships are Great
No. 6 – Best Quality of Life
No. 18 – Best Career Services
No. 18 – Students Pack the Stadiums
“The rankings speak to the overall undergraduate education experience at Virginia Tech,” said Daniel Wubah, vice president for undergraduate education and deputy provost. “It starts first with student learning and engagement. Through innovative faculty, staff, curricula, programs, and services, students can develop academically, socially, and professionally – ensuring their success during their time on campus and when they graduate.”
Students have more academic opportunities than ever before. A new degree option in religion and culture through the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences opens in spring 2013. A degree option in meteorology – which opened in the College of Natural Resources and Environment in spring 2012 – is ahead of targeted enrollment numbers. Special programs such as the Integrated Science Curriculum and the Scieneering program continue to enroll new students, allowing opportunities to expand learning and to dive into undergraduate research.
Blending the academic and social boundaries, the university’s newest living-learning community opened for the fall semester. The Residential College at West Ambler Johnston houses around 800 students, open to students from all years and majors.
While students are challenged in the classroom, the university also provides a balance, as evidenced by The Princeton Review rankings. Students raved about the food offered on campus. The latest addition, Turner Place at Lavery Hall, is the first dining option on the academic side of campus. It features eight different venues.
“Beyond feeding them well, the rankings show students make a positive connection with Virginia Tech that leads to well-rounded students and citizens,” said Patty Perillo, vice president for student affairs. “The university’s programs, services, and organizations build a powerful community on and off campus. The Hokie Nation’s strength and reputation is evident beyond Blacksburg and the commonwealth.”
The overall undergraduate experience leads to attractive employee candidates. Virginia Tech’s Office of Career Services tapped into the rankings for Best Career Services. From a survey of 2010-11 graduates, almost 80 percent reported that they were employed or were continuing their education. Of those employed, the survey found a median salary of $48,500.
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 215 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 30,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $450 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.