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SANTA PAULA, CA — August 24, 2007-Thomas Aquinas College offers students an outstanding undergraduate education, according to The Princeton Review. The New York-based education services company features the 4-year, Catholic college in the new 2008 edition of its annual book, Best 366 Colleges (Random House / Princeton Review, August 21, 2007, $21.95). Only about 15% of the country's four-year colleges were chosen for the guide, which offers a profile of each school and ranks the top 20 colleges in 62 categories. In addition to ranking 5th among private colleges nationwide in the "Best Value" category, Thomas Aquinas College ranked among the top 20 in 17 other categories.

Says Robert Franek, Princeton Review's V.P., Publishing, "We chose schools for this book primarily for their outstanding academics. We evaluated them based on institutional data we collect about the schools, feedback from students attending them, and our visits to schools over the years. We also consider the opinions of independent college counselors, students, and parents we hear from year-long."

In its profile of Thomas Aquinas College, The Princeton Review says, "Thomas Aquinas' unique curriculum helps distinguish the small college within the field of higher education, and many interested students cite the school's academic philosophy as one of its chief attractors. TAC professors demand that their students demonstrate intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm."

The profile also quotes extensively from Thomas Aquinas College students who were surveyed by The Princeton Review for the book. Says one student, "This is a Catholic college, and it's proud of its Catholic identity." Another, who walked away from more than three years of mechanical engineering training at another university after reading the college's founding document, comments, "The typical student at TAC has a zeal for seeking the truth."

The 62 ranking lists in the 2008 edition of Best 366 Colleges are based on The Princeton Review's survey of 120,000 students attending those 366 colleges. The 80-question survey asked students to rate their schools on several topics and report on their campus experiences at them.

Thomas Aquinas College appears in 17 of the "Top 20" ranking lists. Among these rankings are Best Classroom Experience (#3), Professors Make Themselves Accessible (#4), Happiest Students (#10), Best Quality of Life (#14), Class Discussions Encouraged (#14), Students Pray on a Regular Basis (#2), Most Beautiful Campus (#17), Students Happy with Financial Aid (#3).

Most notably, Thomas Aquinas College was ranked #5 in the list of "Top 10 Best Value-Private Colleges" in the 2008 edition of America's Best Value Colleges, another Priceton Review publication that profiles 168 of the 366 colleges that appear in the Best 366 Colleges. According to The Princeton Review, America's Best Value Colleges showcases "schools that we believe offer solid academics and enroll good students who are happy with the education they are receiving, and, additionally-and more importantly-do not have to mortgage their futures because their school is charging them way too much."

Media Contact for Princeton Review Books:
Jeanne Krier, 212-539-1350, Jeanne@Jeannekrier.com