Pitt-Bradford is One of the Best

For the fifth consecutive year, The Princeton Review has recognized the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford as one of the best schools in the Northeast. “Without question, we’re delighted that The Princeton Review once again recognizes Pitt-Bradford as one of the best in our region,” said Dr. Livingston Alexander, university president.

The New York City-based education services company selected Pitt-Bradford as one of 212 institutions it recommends in its “Best in the Northeast” section on its PrincetonReview.com feature “2009 Best Colleges Region by Region.”

The Princeton Review also profiles Pitt-Bradford in its book, “The Best Northeastern Colleges: 2009 Edition,” which goes on sale Aug. 5.

The 630 colleges named “regional bests” represent about 25 percent of the nation’s 2,500 four-year colleges.

The Princeton Review survey for this project asks students to rate their own schools on several issues -- from the accessibility of their professors to quality of the campus food -- and answer questions about themselves, their fellow students, and their campus life. Actual comments from surveyed students pepper each Princeton Review college profile on its website and in the book.

“The professors here are your friends,” a senior told The Princeton Review interviewers. “They help you in any way they can.”

Students in the school profile describe Pitt-Bradford as “a friendly, close-knit campus where everyone really has a chance to experience the good things about university life.

“Everyone seems to get along very well no matter how different they are. Since the campus isn’t very big, it’s very easy to make a lot of friends. You always find someone to hang with even if you don’t know them.”

Says Robert Franek, Princeton Review’s vice president of publishing, “We commend all of the schools we name this year as our ‘regional best’ colleges primarily for their excellent academic programs.

“We selected them based on institutional data we collected from several hundred schools in each region, our visits to schools over the years, and the opinions of independent and high school-based college advisors whose recommendations we invite.

“We also take into account what each school’s customers – their students – report to us about their campus experiences at their schools on our 80-question student survey. Finally, we work to have our annual roster of ‘regional best’ colleges present a range of institutions in each region that varies by size, selectivity, character and locale.”

Pitt-Bradford has been recognized by The Princeton Review four times previously. Last year the school was named one of the best schools in the Eastern region. In 2005 and 2006, Pitt-Bradford was named one of the best colleges in the Northeast. And in 2004, the university was named one of the best 115 colleges in the Mid-Atlantic.

“Although we’re now receiving recognition on a consistent basis by national publications, we will not rest on our laurels,” Alexander said. “We’ll continue to grow and improve and, in that way, provide better service to students and our local communities.”

The Princeton Review is an online resource for prospective college students, providing them information about colleges and universities throughout the United States. Additionally, the site offers prospective students advice on financial aid and tips on taking the SATs.