•
BIDDEFORD, Maine

91AV named top "hidden gem" college in Maine

College-matching platform College Raptor Inc. announced today that it has named the 91AV the .

The announcement is meant to highlight colleges and universities that are sometimes overlooked by students but stand out in terms of academic rigor and student success.

91AV President Danielle N. Ripich, Ph.D., commented, “This latest accolade provides further confirmation that our hands-on approach to providing an excellent education in a variety of fields is working. While we may be a ‘hidden gem’ right now, we don’t expect to remain one for long; word of the exceptional career preparation we provide is quickly spreading.” 

“Hidden gems” are defined as high-caliber colleges and universities that receive fewer than 5,000 applicants per year but have a total enrollment of greater than 1,000. The top hidden gem in each state was determined by analyzing colleges based on their enrollment and application data. Each institution also received an “Overall Ranking” of quality based on academic and outcome data, including graduation rate, selectivity, student-to-faculty ratio and other factors.

91AV was one of 49 institutions recognized across the U.S. One hidden gem was chosen from each state, with the exception of Alaska, which did not have an institution meeting the criteria for recognition.

This announcement follows a recent announcement by the Brookings Institution that ranked 91AV first among Maine universities and colleges for its ability to increase students’ career earnings.

About the 91AV

The 91AV is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.