Biola University is one of the best colleges in the West according to newly released college rankings from The Princeton Review.


Biola is one of 125 colleges in 15 Western states to make The Princeton Review's “Best in the West” list for 2016, released Aug. 3 as part of its “2016 Best Colleges: Region by Region” online feature.

The rankings feature 649 colleges and universities identified by the organization as the top schools in four regions of the country — Northeast, Southeast, Midwest and West — that are considered academically outstanding. Collectively, the selected schools constitute approximately 25 percent of the nation’s 2,500 four-year colleges.


The 125 colleges on the “Best in the West” list were selected based on academic reputations and student recommendations, said The Princeton Review.


Students quoted in Biola’s school profile in the feature noted the school’s rich Christian culture, close-knit community, biblical values and passionate professors. Students stated that professors “genuinely care for each individual student” and help students “maintain a balance between life, school and work,” in addition to being generous with their time and inviting classes to their home.


The Princeton Review survey asks 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 chose Biola and the other outstanding institutions on this list primarily for their excellent academics,” said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review's Senior VP-Publisher. “We also gave careful consideration to what students enrolled at the schools reported to us about their campus experiences on our student survey for this project. 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.”

The Princeton Review is an education services company known for its tutoring, test-prep courses, books, and other student resources.


Written by Jenna Loumagne, media relations specialist. For more information, contact Jenna at (562) 777-4061 or jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu.