UT is Named a “Best College” by The Princeton Review

The University of Tampa has been named one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate education, according to The Princeton Review. The college is one of six schools that The Princeton Review will add to the roster of colleges it profiles in the next edition of its popular annual “best colleges” guidebook.

Titled The Best 377 Colleges: 2013 Edition (Random House /Princeton Review Books), the guide will be available in bookstores in late August 2012.

Robert Franek, senior vice president/publisher, visited UT early this semester. He said UT was granted inclusion in the book as one of the "best" undergraduate colleges based on the Review’s high regard for UT’s academic programs and other offerings, the opinions of students surveyed and the feedback they’ve received about UT from their staff, other educators and parents.

“Only about 15 percent of the four-year colleges in the nation are in this book. In our opinion, these are ‘the crème of the crop’ institutions for undergraduates in America," Franek said.

The Princeton Review’s selections vary considerably by region, size, selectivity and character. They include public and private schools, traditional and non-traditional colleges, historically black colleges and universities, and science and technology-focused institutions. “Each college we feature, however, is an outstanding institution that we highly recommend to college applicants and their parents," Franek added.

UT President Ronald L. Vaughn said he was delighted UT has been included in the “best colleges” guidebook.

“The Princeton Review is well respected as a college guide for prospective students, and we’ve felt for many years that it was an oversight that UT was not in that guide,” Vaughn said. “I think this is a testament to the expertise and commitment of our faculty and staff, and the success of UT students over the years.”

He described Franek’s visit early this semester as thorough, but mutually beneficial.

“This wasn’t a formality. They looked at our programs, co-curriculars and services very carefully, and we had to prove we belonged. And that included their reviewing opinions from students,” Vaughn said. “I think they learned a lot about UT that day.”