Lebanon Valley College Again Included in U.S. News & World Report Among “Best Value Schools” and “Best Regional Universities”

A few days after welcoming a record number of students for the second consecutive year, Lebanon Valley College continued its success at placing among the “Best Value Schools” and “Best Regional Universities” in U.S. News & World Report’s annual edition of “America’s Best Colleges.” The 2019 version of “America’s Best Colleges” has the Hershey-area LVC ranked 15th and 24th respectively in the two categories (Regional Universities, North). 

U.S. News & World Report also continued to place Lebanon Valley College highly in several other areas critical to prospective students and their families. 

LVC was ranked nationally among all 644 Regional Universities in:

• Actual Graduation Rate (top 8%)
• Percentage of Freshmen in Top 25% of High School Class (top 13%)
• Average First-Year Retention Rate (top 15%)
• Average Alumni Giving Rate (top 8%)

U.S. News & World Report publishes the best-known ratings of the nation’s colleges and universities. The “Best Value Schools” ranking is based on a calculation that accounts for a school’s academic quality based on its U.S. News Best Colleges ranking and the 2017–18 net cost of attendance for a student who received the average level of need-based financial aid. The higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal. 

This national recognition follows a recent #1 acknowledgment for LVC. Career guidance site Zippia listed Lebanon Valley College #1 among all U.S. colleges and universities in its listing of “The Best Colleges in Each State for Getting a Job 2018.” The College’s placement rate of 96.185% is based on College Scorecard data looking “at year 10 after students have graduated.” 

Graduates of LVC’s Class of 2018 are employed in rewarding careers and enrolled in prestigious medical and graduate programs. Three members of the class earned Fulbright Scholarships (Malaysia, South Korea, and Wales). Lockheed Martin, Aetna, KPMG, Hershey Medical Center, Walt Disney World, the U.S. Forest Service, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Fulton Bank, and numerous school districts are among those who employed 2018 graduates. 

“Lebanon Valley College’s strong academic, athletic, and social support systems, which include the newly launched Breen Center for Graduate Success, enhance the ability of our students to succeed,” said Edwin Wright, vice president of enrollment management. “Also, our faculty focus on involving students in research, conference presentations, academic publications, and professional internships. These personal touches ultimately lead to the College’s high national rankings.” 

This fall, 99 percent of the entering class received grant or scholarship aid from the College. Generous academic scholarships are awarded to students whose high school records demonstrate a commitment to achievement. Further, LVC’s Global Network is more than 17,000 strong and includes alumni in nearly 30 countries and all 50 states.