Averett was one of only 140 colleges in 12 states to make the Princeton’s “Best in the Southeast” list for 2016. Fraenk said students were surveyed on 80 questions potential students might ask on a campus visit. Only schools that allow Princeton to survey their students are considered for the list. Students answer questions on topics like accessibility of their professors, the quality of their science lab facilities and other questions about themselves and fellow students.

“Only schools at which we see a strong level of satisfaction among their enrolled students — whom we consider their customers — make it to our final slate of regional ‘best’ college selections,” Franek said.

This is the third consecutive year Averett has appeared on the list. Other Virginia schools on the list include Bridgewater College, Christopher Newport University, the College of William and Mary and Hampton University, among others.

“The responses of our students on The Princeton Review’s survey are an affirmation that our innovative, student-centered approach is not only being embraced; it is helping our students flourish in school and in their careers,” said Averett President Tiffany Franks.

Averett also was again among the top 30 “Best Regional Colleges in the South” in the 2016 college rankings from U.S. News & World Report. Averett was also first out of 73 Virginia schools listed in the regional college category. Additionally, the magazine ranked Averett among the Best Colleges for Veterans in the South.

“Our goal at Averett is to be a premier student-centered university renowned for innovative teaching and experiential learning,” Franks said. “Our consistently impressive performance in the prestigious U.S. News & World Report rankings proves that we are well on our way to achieving our goal.”

The rankings are based on 16 different measures of academic quality. The rankings emphasize student outcomes like graduation and retention rates.

“Taking into account how well a school supports its students from freshman year through graduation is important,” said Brian Kelly, editor and chief content officer at U.S. News, in a news release. “To find the best fit, students should consider a range of factors, from financial aid offerings and location to campus size and majors.”