Harrisburg – Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) universities have been scoring well in a number of national surveys, most recently in a trio of listings published by The Princeton Review.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) is included in the 2010 edition of The Princeton Review’s “Best 371 Colleges,” an annual guidebook of the nation’s top four-year colleges and universities. It is the ninth year in a row IUP has been featured in the publication.

California, Kutztown and Slippery Rock universities of Pennsylvania are included along with IUP in the Review’s listing of “Best Northeastern Colleges.” Both California and Slippery Rock made the regional listing last year, as well.

IUP's Eberly College of Business and Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania’s John L. Grove College of Business both areincluded in the current edition of the Review’s “Best 296 Business Schools.”

“The rest of the nation is starting to learn what we have known for a long time, that PASSHE universities are among the best at offering students truly outstanding educational opportunities,” said PASSHE Chancellor John C. Cavanaugh. “These recognitions are well deserved.”

A number of PASSHE universities have been recognized recently by other national publications for their academic excellence, service to students and educational value.

West Chester University of Pennsylvania was rated among the best values in public higher education by Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. West Chester ranked 53^rd among the 100 colleges and universities listed.

Millersville, Shippensburg, West Chester and Bloomsburg universities of Pennsylvania all ranked in the upper tier among master’s level universities in the northern region of the United States in the most recent rankings by U.S. News & World Report. Millersville and Shippensburg tied for 58^th in the rankings, while West Chester ranked 69^th and Bloomsburg, 81^st.

Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Havenand Millersville universities are included on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, selected by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Being selected for the Honor Roll is one of the highest forms of recognition by the federal government for a commitment to service and civic engagement on campus and around the country.

Slippery Rock University is included in the 2009 edition of Beyond the Books, Guide to Service-Learning at Colleges &Universities, which profiles the nation’s top institutions for service learning. Four institutions – SRU, Princeton, New Mexico and Appalachian State – are featured in a chapter on schools that teach students to use academic skills and knowledge for community projects in education, homelessness, inequality and the environment.

Cal U. has been designated an “eArmyU school” as a preferred provider of online education for soldiers. The university offers degrees through GoArmyEd, the military’s educational portal, to soldiers stationed around the world. Cal U. also was named one of America's Top Military Friendly Colleges and Universities by Military Advanced Education, a magazine for service members who are continuing their studies.

The majority of academic programs offered by the 14 PASSHE universities are accredited by professional organizations, a strong indicator of academic quality across the State System. Students who graduate from accredited programs have enhanced career opportunities and also are more competitive when applying to graduate schools.

Seventy-nine percent of PASSHE programs eligible for accreditation are now accredited, up from only about 53 percent in 2004. Two PASSHE universities – Clarion and IUP – have had more than 90 percent of their eligible programs accredited. Seven of the universities have received accreditation for more than 80 percent of their eligible programs compared to only two institutions achieving this mark in 2004.

The business programs at five PASSHE universities (Bloomsburg, Clarion, Indiana, Shippensburg and West Chester) are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), one of the most prestigious and difficult to achieve accreditations in academe. Two other PASSHE universities (East Stroudsburg and Slippery Rock) are in the process of seeking AACSB accreditation.

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher education in the Commonwealth, with more than 112,500 students. The 14 PASSHE universities offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Approximately 405,000 PASSHE alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

The state-owned universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. PASSHE also operates branch campuses in Clearfield, Freeport, Oil City and Punxsutawney and several regional centers, including the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg.