Posted on Wednesday, July 3, 2024
¾¨Ó㴫ý has been named a 2024-2025 College of Distinction, recognized for offering a high-quality undergraduate education that focuses on experiential learning, its exceptional business, education and nursing programs, and strong student-teacher relationships that encourage student success.
Colleges of Distinction, a unique guide for college-bound students, has a rigorous selection process and chooses schools that adhere to four distinctions: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community and successful outcomes. According to Tyson Schritter, chief operating officer at Colleges of Distinction, ¾¨Ó㴫ý has demonstrated exceptional performance in each area, ensuring a supportive and enriching environment that equips students for future academic and career success.
“A college degree opens the door to many opportunities, but a truly worthwhile education prepares students to thrive once they walk through that door,” said Schritter. “¾¨Ó㴫ý’s curriculum encourages meaningful student-faculty collaboration through experiential learning that is relevant and applicable to the real world.”
Unlike traditional ranking systems based on numerical data, Colleges of Distinction conducts extensive and detailed interviews with members of the institution.
“No student is alike, so there can’t be a number-one school for everyone. We are much more focused on the innovative ways that colleges are offering their own brand of a truly rich undergraduate education,” said Schritter. ¾¨Ó㴫ý’s individual approach to education helps students achieve success in unique ways that cannot be ranked against others.

“We are so impressed to see how ¾¨Ó㴫ý brings life to the traditional undergraduate experience,” said Schritter. “With a welcoming community, an immersive curriculum and strong support networks, ¾¨Ó㴫ý is undoubtedly nurturing the growth of tomorrow’s leaders."
Additionally, ¾¨Ó㴫ý has been named a Pennsylvania College of Distinction and was cited for excellence in business, education and nursing programs.
To become a Business College of Distinction, Schritter said they look for qualities such as accreditation, program breadth, advising and mentoring, integration of career services and successful student outcomes. ¾¨Ó㴫ý, with its well-rounded curriculum and a liberal arts foundation, successfully prepares its students to enter the workforce with strong leadership skills and the ability to succeed in an ever-evolving society.
“Thriving in a precarious economy requires one to be agile in the face of chance,” he said. “We applaud ¾¨Ó㴫ý’s emphasis on educating ethical, agile and competent leaders.”
Recognizing ¾¨Ó㴫ý’s stellar curriculum and outcomes for education majors, Colleges of Distinction noted the impactful ways students are prepared to lead their own classrooms after graduation. As an Education College of Distinction, ¾¨Ó㴫ý is a testament to the quality of its hands-on approach to learning, leading and succeeding.
“An impressive undergraduate education is marked by its stability, practical experiences, advising and mentoring, high-impact practices and successful student outcomes,” said Schritter. “It's inspiring to see the next generation of teachers graduating from ¾¨Ó㴫ý with confidence.”
As a Nursing College of Distinction, ¾¨Ó㴫ý has proven its commitment to training well-rounded, thoughtful and skilled nurses of tomorrow.
“¾¨Ó㴫ý’s undergraduate nursing program blows us away,” said Schritter. “These young adults are entering the medical field with such a strong skill set. ¾¨Ó㴫ý embodies the qualities we value in a high-impact education.”
For nearly 175 years, ¾¨Ó㴫ý has been committed to making a quality higher education affordable and attainable to all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, sex or religion.
To view ¾¨Ó㴫ý’s College of Distinction, please visit .