For the 11th consecutive year, The Princeton Review has named Cal U among the best universities in the northeastern United States. The nationally known education services company selected California University as one of the 225 institutions profiled in the Best in the Northeast section of its “2016 Best Colleges: Region By Region” listing at www.PrincetonReview.com. The institutions named in the regional “best of” lists are considered “academically outstanding and well worth consideration” as part of a college search, according to The Princeton Review.

In total, The Princeton Review recognized 649 colleges and universities in four regions — Northeast, Southeast, Midwest and West. These schools represent just 25 percent of the nation’s approximately 2,500 four-year colleges. The Princeton Review assesses schools for academic excellence, compiling the list based on student surveys, data collected through its administrator surveys, and the opinions of its staff and of college counselors and advisers. The results indicate that Cal U’s small-town setting means the campus “feels safe,” yet it’s “only 45 minutes from the airport” and downtown Pittsburgh. “Cal U has a beautiful campus, and the facilities are top-notch. It’s hard not to fall in love with it,” one student wrote.        

Once again, the university earned high marks for campus- wide Wi-Fi and “smart” classrooms. Students also mentioned the importance of the university’s “roomy” residence halls: “That is where you live, after all.”

  Students also commented on the diversity on campus, with a mixture of traditional, non- traditional and international students. “People are really friendly. I really enjoy having people from so many different backgrounds in my classes. It makes discussions fun.”               

    The Princeton Review’s 225 “Best Northeastern Colleges” are located in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and the District of Columbia.