Princeton Review ranks Lawrence among top private colleges for ‘Best Value’

Lawrence University is ranked among the top 50 private colleges in the country in The Princeton Review’s latest listing of Best Value Colleges.

The 2023 report, released by the education services company, places Lawrence among 209 best-value schools in the nation—public and private—based on 40 data points that broadly cover academics, affordability, and career outcomes of graduates. While the project does not rank the 209 in any order, it does list a top 50 in separate rankings of both private and public colleges. Lawrence lands at No. 48 among private colleges.

“We’re happy that The Princeton Review concurs that Lawrence provides one of the best returns on investment of colleges across the country,” Lawrence President Laurie A. Carter said. “It speaks to our world-class academics, the success of our graduates, and the scholarship opportunities available. It’s welcome news for students and families making the decision to invest in all that Lawrence has to offer.”

Lawrence is the only private college in Wisconsin to make the top 50 ranking.

"We commend—and recommend—each of the 209 schools that made our Best Value Colleges list for 2023,” said Rob Franek, editor of The Princeton Review. “They share three exceptional distinctions: stellar academics, strong career prospects for their graduates, and affordable cost via generous financial aid or a comparatively low sticker price, or both. For these reasons and many others, our Best Value Colleges are truly a select group. They comprise only about 8% of the nation’s 2,637 four-year undergraduate degree-granting institutions.”

The Princeton Review report follows last fall’s U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges ranking that called Lawrence the No. 1 liberal arts college in Wisconsin. Lawrence ranked 63rd among all liberal arts colleges in the country and placed high in five sub-categories—Best Undergraduate Teaching, Best First-Year Experience, Best Value, Most International Students, and Top Performers on Social Mobility.

See more on Lawrence’s awards and recognition here.