Public Colleges of Distinction 2016

The Best Student-Focused Public Colleges You Won't Discover Anywhere Else

Every year, Public Colleges of Distinction delivers a reliable, journalistic look at schools that may not have the biggest names in higher education, but that consistently do a great job preparing undergraduate students for success in whatever career or continued education track they choose to pursue.

The schools with profiles in this book tend to have smaller class sizes, a greater focus on students' individual needs, and faculty that are engaged and invested in their students' futures. That's what makes these public colleges unique--they have a proven track of successful operation, and they're using teaching methods that make a student's college years not just an education, but a valuable life experience.

We believe that sort of education is worth the investment.

School That Practice Proven Teaching Methods

The 60 schools included in Public Colleges of Distinction 2016 implement and encourage--each in their own unique way--a variety of high-impact education practices: methods of teaching and living that research from the Association of American Colleges & Universities has shown helps students find happy and productive lives after school.

These high-impact practices include:

• First-Year Seminars
• Living Learning Communities
• Common Intellectual Experiences
• Internship Opportunities
• Writing-Intensive Courses 
• Service and Community-Based Learning 
• Collaborative Assignments and Projects 
• Undergraduate Research
• Diversity and Global Learning
• Capstone Courses and Projects

Each school approaches education in their own way. The college guide books we offer offer will help you navigate how to find what combination is right for you.

How Does a College of Distinction Get Evaluated?

We go beyond the biased assumptions of mainstream numerical rankings and popularity surveys to find the best schools to include in our guides.


To be counted as a College of Distinction, schools have to apply and be selected. Then each school is evaluated on four criteria:

• Engaged Students
• Great Teaching
• Vibrant Community
• Successful Outcomes

Verifying that a school meets our high standards is a long process of interviews and hands-on research.

The perfect school for you is out there. Rely on Public Colleges of Distinction 2016 to simplify your search and aid you during the decision-making process.

Learn what makes these schools great, but more importantly, find a school that's right for you.

Buy Public Colleges of Distinction 2016 to get started today!