We have a knack for climbing the ranks, and the latest assessment from the Princeton Review does not disappoint. Richmond made impressive jumps in two lists: we’re No. 39 in the “Top 50 Colleges that Pay You Back” list, up from No. 48 last year, and No. 3 in the "Top 25 Best Schools for Internships” list, up from No. 18 last year.

“At the University of Richmond … academic opportunities abound,” the Princeton Review writes. “No matter if they want to study abroad or conduct research, these 2,950 students have access to ‘unparalleled resources’ and can easily broaden their horizons.” Among the resources mentioned is The Richmond Guarantee, which provides a fellowship of up to $4,000 for every undergraduate student to use toward a summer internship or a faculty-mentored research project. Pretty incredible opportunity, right?

The institutions included in the 2018 edition of “Colleges That Pay You Back: The 200 Schools That Give You the Best Bang for Your Tuition Buck” are considered the nation’s best for academics, affordability and career prospects.

We agree because not only does UR have a need-blind admission process, but we also have a guarantee to meet 100 percent of demonstrated need. As an added bonus for Virginia residents, UR will cover all tuition, room and a meal plan — with no loans — for families earning less than $60,000 a year.

"Students at these colleges also have access to extraordinary career services from their freshman year on, plus a lifetime of valuable alumni support." said Robert Franek, the Princeton Review’s Editor-in-Chief.

With all of the wonderful academic benefits at Richmond, let’s not forget that Spiders like to have fun outside of the classroom, too. “It’s easy to have a good time at University of Richmond…students can participate in everything from service organizations and religious groups to a cappella and dance troupes to academic and social fraternities.”

These latest rankings are a ringing endorsement of the Richmond experience. There’s no better time to be a Spider!