It was announced Thursday, Sept. 2 that Elizabethtown College was one of 223 colleges to be named to the Princeton Review’s “Best in the Northeast” list. The site named a total of 665 colleges to its “2022 Best Colleges: Region by Region” feature, split into five categories by region: the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, West and International. The colleges named to the “Best in the Northeast” list are from 11 Northeastern states, and the schools in each list are itemized in alphabetical order rather than being ranked. The full list for Northeastern states can be accessed here.

“We are honored to be included as a top college in the Northeast by The Princeton Review,” Etown President Cecilia M. McCormick, J.D. said. “This recognition highlights the exceptional Elizabethtown College academic and social experience that we provide our students as they develop the knowledge and skills to pursue their life’s work and make impactful contributions in our world.”

The Princeton Review provides college admissions services such as test preparation, tutoring and online resources for students. The company has 4,000 tutors and teachers and 150 college preparation books published by Penguin Random House. It is not affiliated with Princeton University.

The Princeton Review also designated 158 colleges in the Midwest, 126 in the West, 143 in the Southeast and four in the International region for their respective regional lists.

Not surprisingly, it is not the College’s first time being featured on one of the Princeton Review’s college ranking lists. Etown was also included in the 2020 “Best in the Northeast” list.

“As a [c]ollege, this is a wonderful recognition to be ranked by The Princeton Review as one of the best institutions in the northeast,” Executive Director of Marketing & Communications Keri Straub said. “The honor represents the robust academic program we offer at Etown as well as it highlights our highly-trained faculty and vibrant student life environment.”

According to the Princeton Review, the colleges named to the “2022 Best Colleges: Region by Region” compose about 23 percent of the nation’s four-year colleges. Unlike other college ranking sites, the Princeton Review primarily relies on student opinion, rather than statistical data, when formulating their rankings. The students are surveyed about their college’s academic programs and administration, student life environment, their fellow students and themselves. The company also considers data from administrators surveyed, information from staff visits and solicited opinions from college counselors and advisers.

“We chose Elizabethtown College and the other outstanding institutions on this list primarily for their academics,” Princeton Review’s Editor-in-Chief Robert Franek said.

This is reflected in the College’s profile on the Princeton Review’s website, which is filled with student quotes about academics, the student body and campus life.

“[The professors] really take an interest not just in your school work, but are eager to know about your personal life and are willing to do anything to help you succeed,” one anonymous student said.

Students also pointed out the safety and intimacy of the campus as well as the noteworthy cities and attractions surrounding Etown. 

You can read more about the College’s profile on the Princeton Review here.