NEW ORLEANS — Loyola University New Orleans provides one of the region’s “Best Values” in higher education; is considered one of the nation’s top colleges, and ranks among the Top 12 universities in the South, according to U.S. News and World Report “Best Colleges” 2019 edition. A top-tier school, Loyola places no. 12 in the Best Value ranking, a measure that demonstrates affordability and access among universities with high academic opportunities and achievement.
In addition to being named one of the nation’s top colleges, Loyola received the following high marks among universities in the Southern region:
· No. 12 – “Best Colleges”
· No. 12 – "Best Value Schools"
· No. 7 – “Best Schools for Veterans”
· No. 9 – “Ethnic or Economic Diversity”
· No. 32 “Best Undergraduate Teaching”
Data released Monday also shows that Loyola New Orleans is featured on a U.S. News and World Report list “A+ Schools for B Students.” Moreover, Loyola’s business program is ranked among the “Best Undergraduate Business Programs” in the nation, with a rank of 199 among 488 undergraduate business programs in the country. The university’s acclaimed online graduate nursing program – celebrated by The Princeton Review, College Choice and a variety of online ranking systems, is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as No. 51 in the nation.
“At Loyola University New Orleans, we are pleased to provide some of the ‘Best Value’ in education, striving always to provide an outstanding academic education and instill ‘best values’ in our students,” said Loyola University New Orleans President Tania Tetlow. “Our great diversity enriches our campus community and brings essential perspectives to our academic work and programs.”
The “Best Value” ranking was calculated based on Loyola’s academic quality, as reflected by its U.S. News and World Report “Best Colleges” ranking, and the 2017-2018 net cost of attendance for a student who received the average level of need-based financial aid. Seventy-one percent of Loyola students receive grants based on needs, according to U.S. News. The average cost to students of a Loyola education after receiving need-based grants is $27, 428.
“The higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal,” U.S. News and World Report said in summary materials. “Only schools in or near the top half of their U.S. News ranking categories are included because U.S. News considers the most significant values to be among colleges that perform well academically.”
“Academic excellence, a strong values-based education, and diversity and inclusion are a way of life at Loyola University New Orleans,” said interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Maria Calzada. “At Loyola University New Orleans, we are committed to educating the whole person and strive daily to foster an environment where every student not only feels inspired and included, but thrives.’”
Loyola’s online education program ranks among the nation’s top online programs in education, according to U.S. News and World Report. Already, online education at Loyola supports the School of Nursing, Loyola Institute of Ministry, a Master’s of Teaching degree program that rolled out in fall 2017, and a part-time Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies aimed at busy adults hoping to complete their undergraduate educations. Plans are in motion to expand the university’s online curriculum, administrators said, with new courses coming online in fall 2019.
U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Colleges 2019” guidebook, which can be pre-ordered or purchased at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other retail outlets, will be on newsstands Oct. 10.
