BY AMANDA HARRIS
The Herald

Winthrop University was named among the “Best in the Southeast” by the Princeton Review and made the U.S. News and World Report’s list of top public universities in the South.

The two reviews take slightly different approaches to ranking Winthrop, but both reflect positively on the university’s past and future, said Winthrop President Dan Mahony.

“I think they are a positive recognition of things going well here and things we want to keep focusing on,” he said.

The Princeton Review rates colleges on academics, admissions selectivity, financial aid, fire safety, quality of life for students, environmental awareness and instructor quality and accessibility.

The review collects data from the colleges, visits to schools, input from college counselors and the opinions of the Princeton Review’s staff. Students rate their schools and answer questions about campus life, peers and themselves.

Winthrop stood out for its diverse student body, campus, cultural event requirement, professors’ availability and the Lois Rhame West Health, Physical Education and Wellness Center, according to the review.

“It’s gratifying to see the Princeton Review continuing to recognize the variety of attributes that make Winthrop a truly special place to earn a college degree,” Mahony said. “The university has built a well-earned reputation for a student-focused education that equips our graduates to succeed in their chosen fields and as informed citizens.”

Winthrop is among 140 schools the Princeton Review recommends online in its “2018 Best Colleges: Region by Region” feature.

Winthrop also has been ranked among the South’s top 10 public regional universities in the 2018 U.S. News and World Report’s edition of “America’s Best Colleges,” released Tuesday.

Winthrop was ranked eighth among Southern public universities, for accomplishments such as a 14:1 student/faculty ratio, increased graduation rate in 2016 and an average first-year student retention rate of 75 percent.

The university also placed in the top 25 for public and private institutions in the South.

Winthrop, which offers a Military, Adult and Transfer Services office, was also ranked number 17 on the list of the region’s Best Colleges for Veterans.

“For decades, Winthrop has been noted for offering national-caliber academics, civic engagement opportunities, undergraduate and graduate level research, and global connections, all in a beautiful campus setting,” Mahony said. “Our faculty and staff make the difference in producing graduates well prepared for their careers and for living in an increasingly complex world.”