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VIENNA -- Ohio Valley University has been recognized as one of the top colleges in the country in a recent national study by U.S. News and World Report in helping students keep their college debt lower.
OVU was ranked fourth in the south region, among the Best Regional Colleges in the 2017 U.S.News and World Report America's Best Colleges Guide, whose class of 2015 graduated with the lightest average debt loads.
"More and more students are finding a college education at Ohio Valley University very affordable," said Joy Jones, OVU's Vice President for Academic Affairs. "As this study indicates, OVU is a compelling and attractive option when it comes to helping students finance their degree and providing long-term value," Jones said.
The data in the study included loans taken out by students from their colleges, from private financial institutions, and from federal, state and local governments. Loans directly to parents were not included in the report.
This year marks the eighth consecutive year that OVU has been ranked in the study.
"We are pleased with our recent U.S.News and World Report ranking as one of the best colleges in the southern United States," Jones said. "For over 50 years, Ohio Valley University has been the Mid-Ohio Valley's number one choice for Christian higher education in our area. It is a distinct honor to be recognized for our Christ-centered academic community and the success of our degree programs."
In addition to being ranked by U.S.News and World Report as one of the Best Colleges in the South Region, Ohio Valley University was reported the fourth highest proportion of international students in the South Region for the 2015-16 academic year.
According to Jones, international students add diversity to a college or university, enriching the experience of other students on campus.
"Schools with a strong global presence, like OVU, have a wealth of cultural groups and events, allowing international students an opportunity to share their food, music and traditions with their U.S. peers," she said, adding international students at universities like OVU also benefit from a large foreign community when trying to acclimate to American life.
Among the subcategories as part of the overall ranking, OVU again stood out for class size with a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1, Jones said.
"Smaller class sizes create more opportunities for one-to-one learning experiences, which greatly benefit student success," she said.
For the last two years, Ohio Valley University has maintained a 91 percent placement rate, with graduates either working in their chosen fields of study or pursuing graduate degrees. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national average is 75 percent.
In June of this year, GradSource.com, the top online destination for prospective master's and doctoral students, also ranked Ohio Valley University as one of the top five universities in the nation to receive an online graduate degree in education.