PLU Named a ‘Best in the West’ University by The Princeton Review

In its profile of PLU, The Princeton Review said the university, “offers a well-rounded education and encourages students to be active participants in the world by encouraging them to lead lives of thoughtful inquiry, service, leadership and care—for other people, their communities, and the Earth.”

“We chose PLU and the other outstanding institutions on this list primarily for their excellent academics,” said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review’s senior vice president-publisher. The Princeton Review editors made their selections based on data the company collected from its survey of administrators at several hundred colleges in each region, as well as staff visits to schools over the years and the perspectives of college counselors and advisors.

“We also gave careful consideration to what students enrolled at the schools reported to us about their campus experiences on our student survey,” Franek said.

The survey asked students to rate their colleges on several issues—from the accessibility of their professors to the quality of their science lab facilities—and answer questions about themselves, their fellow students and their campus life.

“We designed our 80-question survey to include questions that prospective applicants might ask on a campus visit,” Franek said. “Only schools at which we see a strong level of satisfaction among their enrolled students—whom we consider their customers—make it to our final slate of regional ‘best’ college selections.”

Among the student responses cited in PLU’s profile:

• “The school emphasizes sustainability and social justice and provides various opportunities to learn about community, culture, their importance and our impact on them.”
• “PLU provides students with a quality education and a curriculum that seeks to educate students in thoughtful and diverse discussions while teaching them to be thoughtful of our environment and community, and this distinctive education sets itself apart from other colleges.”
• Students find their professors to be kind, understanding and very knowledgeable and interested in their subject.
• “PLU professors genuinely enjoy educating and are capable of holding interest as well as teaching in a functional way because they are engaging and passionate about their subject matter.”
• Students enjoy the typical PLU teaching style that places a greater emphasis on discussion and group activities, explaining that discussion and activity time make learning much more exciting.
• Some PLU students said their professors “are not afraid to challenge us,” and all agree that faculty “are accessible and friendly and obviously care about their students.”

PLU also is included in the 2015 edition of The Princeton Review Guide to 353 Green Colleges as one of the 353 most environmentally responsible colleges in the United States.