Princeton's Financial Aid Praised In Recent Rankings

PRINCETON, NJ — Princeton University offers great financial aid. This seems to be the university’s biggest takeaway in the Princeton Review’s most recent ranking of the top 384 colleges in America.

The tutoring, test prep, and college admission services company surveyed 138,000 students at the schools and asked them to rate the institutions on dozens of topics.

Although the company did not rank the top 384 colleges — the list is in alphabetical order — it did rank them for numerous category lists, including the best college theater, the best science lab facilities, best party schools, most beautiful campus and even something as silly as “nobody plays intramural sports.”

Princeton ranked No. 6 in Great Financial Aid.

Robert Franek, editor in chief at The Princeton Review and the book's lead author, said in a release that the 384 "best" colleges were primarily based on their "outstanding academics" and that the authors "highly recommend each one." But Franek noted stellar academics aren't the only things students — and parents — look for in a college.

"We created our 62 ranking lists to help narrow that search," he said. "They are based entirely on data we gather beyond academics that give insight into what the schools' enrolled students say about their professors, administrators, school services, campus culture, and student life. In the end, it's all about the fit."

The 84-question survey asks students about their school's academics, administration, student body and themselves. You can read more about the ranking methodology here.

Story by Tom Davis, Patch National Staff

Patch national reporter Dan Hampton contributed to this article.

Photo credit: Shutterstock / baipooh