Westminster College is among the nation's best in enhancing the educational achievement of its students, according to a national study released today.

U.S. News & World Report's 2008 Guide to America's Best Colleges cited Westminster as one of the nation's best in enhancing the educational achievement of its students. Westminster is tied for seventh among Liberal Arts Colleges and in the top ten of all colleges in graduation rate performance. Westminster College's 78% graduation rate was 15% higher than predicted.

The indicator, developed by U.S. News and previously called "value added," shows the effect of the college's programs and policies on the graduation rate of its students after controlling for spending and student aptitude. U.S. News arrives at the score by measuring the difference between a school's six-year graduation rate for the class that entered in 2000, and the predicted graduation rate for the class. The predicted graduation rate is calculated using a formula that accounts for the standardized test scores of these students and the school's expenditures on them over the years. If the actual graduation rate is higher than the predicted rate, the college is enhancing the students' achievement.

"We are pleased to be recognized by the national media for serving our students -- Westminster's number one objective. Westminster is a student-centered college and this ranking reflects that commitment," said Westminster College President R. Thomas Williamson.

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching reclassified higher education institutions in 2006 resulting in a new classification system for U.S. News & World Report. This year 266 colleges were included in the category, and these institutions must award at least 50 percent of their degrees in liberal arts disciplines and emphasize undergraduate education.