Forbes names Centre best college in the South; Berea and Transylvania both in top 20

DANVILLE, Ky -  Centre College sits atop the newly released Forbes magazine list of the Best Colleges in the South. Joining Centre in the top 20 are Berea College (19th) and Transylvania University (20th).

The Forbes article begins:

“There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of the best college in the South. But in the heart of Kentucky, there’s a school that outperforms Ivies, boasts some of the most fiercely loyal alumni in the world, and guarantees graduation within four years - or it will pay for an additional year of tuition-free study.”

In addition to praising the Centre Commitment - which guarantees timely graduation, an internship, study abroad, and a passport if any incoming first-year student does not have one - Forbes lauds Centre for its low student-faculty ratio (currently 11:1) and the success of its alumni.

This is the the first time Forbes has released lists of best colleges based on U.S. Census Bureau regions. In 2009 Forbes rated Centre No. 14 among all private U.S. colleges and universities and included Centre among its “Best College Buys.” This is the first time Berea and Transylvania have been recognized by Forbes.

Forbes worked with the Center for College Affordability and Productivity to develop its rankings, which are designed to “emphasize the quality of students a school graduates, as opposed to the quality of students it admits.”

AIKCU is very proud to see its members so we well-represented on a list that includes heavyweight national institutions like the U.S. Naval Academy, Washington and Lee University, Vanderbilt University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

See the full list of the Best Colleges in the South at Forbes.com