WEST POINT, N.Y. – A report released yesterday by Forbes ranked West Point, The U.S. Military Academy, fourth in the country in their annual ranking of America’s Best Colleges.

“West Point is again honored and pleased to be selected as one of America's top five best colleges. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our exceptional cadets, faculty and staff operating in world-class facilities. This excellence, as recognized by Forbes, is a key element in preparing our cadets for the challenges they will face as future Army officers,” said West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. David Huntoon.

“We review just nine percent of the 6,600 accredited postsecondary institutions in the U.S., so appearing on our list at all is an indication that a school meets a high standard,” Forbes stated in their release.

Forbes uses more than 10 factors in compiling these rankings, with no single factor counting as much as 20 percent. The rankings are objectively determined, with the only subjective judgments being those of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity and Forbes as to which factors to include and the weights to be used in evaluating each factor.

The Center for College Affordability and Productivity in conjunction with Forbes, compiled its college rankings using five general categories, with several components within each general category. The weightings are listed below:

1. Student Satisfaction 27.5 percent
2. Postgraduate Success 30 percent
3. Student Debt 17.5 percent
4. Four-year Graduation Rate 17.5 percent
5. Competitive Awards 7.5 percent

To see the complete rankings go to www.forbes.com/colleges

About West Point
Ranked the “Top Public Liberal Arts College” by “US News & World Report” and “fourth best college in the country” by Forbes, the U.S. Military Academy is a four-year co-educational federal undergraduate liberal arts college located 50 miles north of New York City. The world's preeminent leader development institution, it was founded in 1802 as America's first college of engineering. Its mission remains constant—to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army. For more information, go to www.westpoint.edu.