Centenary named Louisiana's only Tier One National Liberal Arts College by US News
SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary College has been designated a Tier One National Liberal Arts College for the sixth straight year in U.S. News & World Report rankings released today. Centenary is the only liberal arts college in Louisiana to earn the Tier One distinction. Colleges recognized in the U.S. News national liberal arts college category emphasize undergraduate education and award at least half of their degrees in the arts and sciences.
"I am very pleased that Centenary's value as a liberal arts institution has been recognized nationally once again," says Centenary president Dr. Christopher L. Holoman. "Accolades like the Tier One Designation affirm the accomplishments of our current students, faculty, and alumni and help introduce Centenary to students who might be less familiar with the College and the many cultural and educational resources that Shreveport has to offer."
Centenary was also recognized as one of the top-10 most diverse National Liberal Arts Colleges and was included in U.S. News 's "Best Ethnic Diversity" list.
"Centenary prides itself on being an inclusive campus that reflects the pluralism of our changing world," says Dr. Jenifer K. Ward, provost and dean of the College. "We strive to empower and equip students from all identities and backgrounds to develop their potential for leadership in addressing the global challenges of the 21st century—as engaged citizens, and in whatever their academic or creative fields may be."
The U.S. News ranking system considers data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and other sources to score institutions in several key measures of quality. The overall ranking includes assessments of graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, and alumni giving, among other categories.
This recognition is the most recent of many accolades for Centenary, including being named a "Best Bang for the Buck" college by Washington Monthly and appearing in the Princeton Review's annual "Best 381 Colleges" publication. The College was also named a "Best Private College" and "Best College in the South" by Forbes, and was the only private college in Louisiana to earn an "A" grade for financial health from the magazine.