Oakland, CA–July 29, 2008. Mills College has been named one of the Best 368 Colleges and one of the 117 "Best Western Colleges" in the nation by the Princeton Review. The College also stands out with a top-notch green rating.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Mills has been included in this national report, a recognition given to only the top 15 percent of four-year U.S. colleges. Mills is one of only six schools in the Bay Area to be included.

"Being named one of the best colleges in the nation is a recognition of Mills' academic quality and the unique educational environment we provide for women," said Renée Jadushlever, vice president for operations.

The Best 368 Colleges characterizes Mills as an institution that is "all about the empowerment of women, innovative thought, independence, and activism" where "most freshwomen even know the president of the college personally."

The College achieves a diversity that "its community members enthusiastically champion" where students love the "many opportunities to get involved and make a difference" that the academic community encourages.

Its students are best described as "The only thing that is typical about the women at Mills is that all of them are smart, independent-thinking, strong women who want to make their lives the best that they can be."

The curriculum is described as "rigorous and challenging," yet undergraduates receive "plenty of support and guidance from the faculty to aid in each student's individual success." Students praised classes in pre-nursing, ethnic studies, psychology, math, computer science, child development, and English.

The Mills campus environment is like "a park in the middle of the city" and received a 92 out of a possible 99 rating by the Princeton Review for its environmental policies and practices. The green category is the newest Princeton Review rating.

"We are so thrilled to be recognized for our hard work," said Karen Maggio, Mills College associate vice president for campus planning and facilities. "Sustainability is central to the mission of education and operations at Mills. By managing our resources efficiently, providing leadership and working together, we can preserve our natural and historic campus for a sustainable future."

The Princeton Review's annual college report has been based almost entirely on surveys of students attending the schools, including more than 120,000 students who were queried nationally. Students were asked 80 questions about their school's academics, administration, campus life, and student body.

Nestled in the foothills of Oakland, California, Mills College is a nationally renowned, independent liberal arts college offering a dynamic progressive education that fosters leadership, social responsibility, and creativity to approximately 950 undergraduate women and 500 graduate women and men. Since 2000, applications to Mills College have more than doubled. The College ranks as one of the top colleges in the West by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, visit www.mills.edu.

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