Oakland, CA - Mills College has been selected among the top 50 colleges for African Americans, according to Black Enterprise magazine (September 2006). Mills was ranked 31st based on a survey of 500 African American higher educational professionals including presidents, chancellors, and directors of student affairs assessing social and academic environments for African American students at U.S. colleges and universities.

The list was based on the black student graduation rate, the average survey score for the school’s academic and social environment, total black undergraduate enrollment, black undergraduates as a percentage of total undergraduates, and ranking on the 2004 Black Enterprise Top Colleges list.

“One of the country’s most diverse colleges, Mills is deeply committed to providing students an exceptional liberal arts education within a progressive, multicultural academic environment,” said Janet L. Holmgren, president. “Our particular emphasis on social justice and leadership development enables students of every background to become instrumental in social change initiatives.”

Mills enrolled approximately 34% students of color in academic year 2005-06, with African Americans representing nine percent of the student body.

Black Enterprise is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans providing essential business information to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers.

Mills College is a nationally renowned, independent liberal arts college offering innovative degree programs for undergraduate women, and graduate degree and certificate programs for women and men. Consistently recognized as one of the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Mills currently ranks 16th for diversity among the country’s liberal arts colleges.

This year, the Washington Monthly College Rankings (September 2006) named Mills a leading liberal arts college based on community service, research spending, quality of preparation for graduate education, and social mobility. In addition, The Princeton Review’s annual guide, The Best 361 Colleges (2007) included Mills for the second year in a row among top U.S. institutions offering students an outstanding undergraduate education.

PRESS CONTACT:
Deborah Dallinger
Communications Consultant
925.788.9131