EDsmart, a university ranking service and college planning resource, has revealed its list of the 51 most phenomenal college student unions and campus centers in the United States.

Draper, UT -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/21/2016 -- EDsmart's ranking of college student union buildings is the most comprehensive and well-rounded to date. Architecture and exterior appeal were the leading features considered in the creation of this ranking. Other considerations considered were facilities, interior appeal, history, tradition, student services, and contribution to student life.

The full list of rankings can be viewed here: (http://www.edsmart.org/amazing-student-unions/)

The number one ranking goes to Slane Center of High Point University. The Slane Center comprises a 40-foot atrium, wellness center with suspended track and basketball court, a swimming pool and sixteen person Jacuzzi, together with major food and coffee chains.

A spokesperson for EDsmart explained, "Student unions embody campus culture and a school's commitment to putting the student first. The student union can give prospective students a great first-impression of a college or university. College students are being provided with some of the most awe-inspiring facilities and this list amply illustrates that fact."

Campuses that made the list include:

51. Hyrum Manwaring Center, BYU-Idaho
50. Memorial Union, University of North Dakota
49. Memorial Union, Oregon State University
48. Marist Student Union Center, Marist College
47. Reng Student Union, Arkansas State University
46. Student Center, Central Connecticut State University
45. Oglesby Union, Florida State University
44. A. Ray Olpin Union, University of Utah
43. Cesar Chavez Student Center, San Francisco University
42. University Center, Lehigh University
41. Memorial Union, University of Oklahoma
40. Union South, University of Wisconsin
39. Student Union, University of North Florida
38. George Sherman Union, Boston University
37. Houston Harte University Center, Angelo State University
36.Ackerman Union, University of California, Los Angeles
35. Willard Straight Hall, Cornell University
34. Alfred Lerner Hall, Columbia University
33. Ernest L. Wilkinson Student Center, BYU
32. Ohio Union, Ohio State University
31. Arkansas Union, University of Arkansas
30. Purdue Memorial Union, Purdue University
29. Tate Student Center, University of Georgia
28. Wakehurst Student Center, Salve Regina University
27. Wyoming Union, University of Wyoming
26. Nebraska Unions, University of Nebraska
25. Price Center, University of California, San Diego
24. O'Hara Student Center, University of Pittsburgh
23. Adele H Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland
22. K-State Student Union, Kansas State University
21. Shapiro Campus Center, Brandeis University
20. Student Union, Florida Atlantic University
19. Alumni Memorial Union, Marquette University
18. Tivoli Student Union, University of Colorado Denver
17. Bronco Student Center, Cal Poly State University
16. Anderson Student Center, University of Saint Thomas, MN
15. Elmo Natali Student Center, California University of Pennsylvania
14. Houston Hall, University of Pennsylvania
13. J. Wayne Reitz Union, University of Florida
12. Michigan Union, University of Michigan
11. Aztec Student Union, San Diego State University
10. Michels Plaza and Student Center, Randolph College
9. EMU Student Center, Eastern Michigan University
8. Student Union, University of North Carolina, Charlotte
7. Smith Campus Center, Pomona College
6. University Student Union, Cal State University, Long Beach
5. Memorial Union, Iowa State
4. Mountainlair, West Virginia University
3. McCormick Tribune Campus Center, Illinois Institute of Technology
2. Student Union, Oklahoma State
1. Slane Center of High Point University

EDsmart recognizes that other student unions and centers may have been overlooked in the creation of this list and invites schools, students, faculty, and architects to contact tstevens@edsmart.org to submit their picks to be included in the rankings.

About EDsmart
EDsmart reviews publicly available data and then produces independent ranking assessments of various educational programs as well as student guides and resources. The mission of EDsmart is to produce college rankings and resources that are useful to prospective and current higher education students. EDsmart recognizes that no ranking system is perfect and recommends that their ratings be used only as a general guide for choosing a quality school.

For more information please visit: http://www.edsmart.org/

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

EDsmart has created a new report which reveals the top thity historically African-American colleges and universities according to their enrollment figures.

Draper, UT -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/03/2015 -- Historically black colleges and universities (HCBUs) are colleges founded before 1964 to serve black communities. These colleges have always admitted people of all races, and recently many have lost their African-American majorities, leaving African-American students unsure of where to best find an educational institution that still prioritizes African-American communities. EDsmart is an online resource center covering all things relating to colleges and universities, and has recently published a report showing the top thirty colleges in America for African American enrolment.

In the new report, a huge data set has been established using the College Navigator system, retrieving official figures from The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). This information has then been used to rank the HBCUs. The top thirty are then explored in summary, with links to their websites and Facebook pages.

The largest HBCUs by African-American enrollment include the Texas Southern University, Jackson State University, North Carolina A&T State University and Howard University, with Florida A&M University named the #1 HBCU by enrollment. The college is praised for providing pathways for social and economic opportunity, ranked #5 among all HBCUs for graduation retention and #15 for highest average salary of graduates.

The top 30 HBCUs as ranked by total African-American student body is:

1) Florida A&M University
2) Howard University
3) North Carolina A&T State University
4) Jackson State University
5) Texas Southern University
6) Prairie View A&M University
7) Tennessee State University
8) North Carolina Central University
9) Southern University and A&M College
10) Morgan State University
11) Norfolk State University 
12) Alabama State University 
13) Bowie State University
14) Virginia State University
15) Alabama A&M University
16) Grambling State University 
17) Hampton University
18) Savannah State University 
19) Fayetteville State University
20) Winston-?Salem State University
21) Bethune-?Cookman University
22) South Carolina State University
23) Delaware State University
24) University of Maryland Eastern Shore
25) Clark Atlanta University
26) Coppin State University
27) Benedict College
28) Tuskegee University
29) University of Arkansas—?Pine Bluff 
30) Xavier University of Louisiana

A spokesperson for EDsmart explained, "EDsmart is committed to helping people understand the reality of higher education in the 21st century, and reports like these are in high demand among students who want to know what their futures could look like with different institutions. With a black and African American enrolment level of 94%, FAMU is the destination of choice for African Americans who want to be educated within culture that specializes in creating opportunities for them, and preparing them for a life as a success leader and entrepreneur. This is just one of many such articles on our website, making it an essential bookmark for anyone considering college."

About EDsmart
EDsmart is an online presence determined to provide helpful, insightful, independent information for students, professors, parents and future students. The EDsmart website offers free news, updates, editorials and rankings on all aspects of higher education, including sports, studies, arts, colleges and more. EDsmart provides stats, studies, & visual representations that tell the true story behind higher education.

For more information please visit: http://www.EDsmart.org/

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

EDsmart has created a new ranking of the ten best community colleges in and around Greater Los Angeles, to help those in the area looking to gain qualifications find the best places to do so.

Lehi, UT -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/28/2015 -- Higher education is something that most people now aspire to, because the advanced level of learning it provides is required in an increasing number of fields, as technology becomes more prevalent and work requires a higher level of skill to push back the boundaries and keep up with progress. EDsmart wants to help everyone get an education, and that's why they publish regular reviews of local community colleges to help prospective students make informed decisions. They have just published a rundown of the best colleges in greater Los Angeles.

The new editorial, entitled "Top 10 Community Colleges in Los Angeles California" has combined research published by CollegeMeasures.org and the National Center For Education Statistics to run its own insights on colleges in the area, ranking them in terms of their transfer rates, including whole student populations.

The results see Irvine Valley College ranked #1, with a graduation and transfer rate of 55% over a student population of over 13,000. Orange Coast College comes close with 53% over 21,000, with Cypress College, Pasadena City College, Santa Monica College, Santiago Canyon College, Golden West College, Citrus College, Fullerton College and Santa Barbara City College making up the rest of the top ten.

A spokesperson for EDsmart explained, "EDsmart is pleased to be able to offer this latest ranking of community colleges in greater Los Angeles, which stands as an invaluable resource to anyone living in or moving to the area looking for the best colleges to attend to maximize their chances of a successful college transfer, which can transform careers and futures. Though transfer rates themselves are not the be all and end all, we have also included write ups considering the broader context of the establishments to better show how they will serve students."

About EDsmart
The EDsmart website offers free information on all aspects of higher education, including sports, studies, arts, colleges and more, covering everything from local community colleges to the most prestigious Ivy League schools. They strive to offer helpful information for students, professors, parents and future students. The site is regularly updated by a dedicated team of researchers and writers.

For more information please visit: http://www.edsmart.org/

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

EDsmart has just published its report on the 40 American colleges creating the greatest benefit to the country’s economic progress, based on analyses of alumni salaries, tuition fees and more.

Lehi, UT -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/28/2015 -- Education is known to be the biggest driving force behind a progressive, inclusive and better society. Unfortunately quality education is becoming harder and harder to secure for the poorer in society, as college tuition fees skyrocket. EDsmart is doing its best to show individuals where a good education is still possible for those without a trust fund, and has just published an editorial showcasing colleges with the best rates of social economic mobility, helping individuals escape low-income backgrounds and move toward prosperity.

The report, entitled "Top 40 Colleges Advancing America's Economic Progress", bases its conclusions on the early median career salary, tuition fees, percentage of graduating students and percentage of low income students. These are then resolved against one another to see which college is helping the most people get out of low income situations and improve their social mobility.

Montana Tech scores the highest with a maximum 100 ESMI (economic social mobility index) score, with the top ten including Rowan University, Florida A&M University, California State Polytechnic University Pomona, California State University Northridge and Stanislaus, University of California, Florida International University, University of California Riverside and Berkeley.

A spokesperson for EDsmart explained, "We understand that parents want the best for their children and students want the best for their future. When they're picking their courses they often consider things like reputation, based in the past, or campus resources, based in the present. We want people to put one eye on the future by using the ESMI to factor into their decision making. The universities with the best scores are those that are most likely to help individuals find gainful employment on a good salary after they leave, which provides an excellent indicator of the quality of their courses, teaching and networking capabilities."

About EDsmart
EDsmart is an online resource center that strives to offer helpful information for students, professors, parents and future students. The EDsmart website offers free information on all aspects of higher education, including sports, studies, arts, colleges and more. The site is regularly updated by a dedicated team of researchers and writers.

For more information please visit: http://www.edsmart.org/

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

EdSmart.org has released new rankings on the top community colleges in California based on graduation and transfer rates, and De Anza College has been named number one for large schools.

Lehi, UT -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/23/2015 -- California ranks 20th nationally in community college graduation and transfer rates, making it one of the most ambitious states in the country for improving the chance of its students in the broader world of employment. Community colleges are known for creating courses with a direct impact on careers, and so they are frequently judged according to transfer rates, graduations and post-graduation employment. EdSmart has recently released rankings of California's top community colleges, and De Anza College has come number one in the large college rankings.

The new rankings for the top community colleges in California for 2015 has just been published on EdSmart, and the rankings are broken into the top community colleges by size. With small, medium and large colleges getting their own rankings, there are three number one schools to choose from in California:

Large Schools
1. De Anza College
2. Orange Coast College
3. Santa Barbara City College
4. Diablo Valley College
5. Pasadena City College

Medium Schools
1. Foothill College
2. Napa Valley College
3. Ohlone College
4. Irvine Valley College
5. Cuesta College

Small Schools
1. Feather River Community College District
2. College of the Siskiyous
3. Lake Tahoe Community College
4. West Hills College-Coalinga
5. Palo Verde College

A spokesperson for EdSmart explained, "De Anza College, Ranked #1, has been found to be the very best large community college in California, beating out stiff competition from its rivals. De Anza has an impressive student success scorecard, comprehensive learning and sports facilities, and unbeatable teaching staff. With a broad range of courses available, all of which are geared toward careers in their respective industries, the school is doing all it can to ensure its students go on to be California's leading lights."

About EdSmart
Known for interesting pieces visually presented, EdSmart strives to offer helpful information for students, professors, parents and future students. Edsmart offers educational information on a variety of topics. The site is regularly updated by a dedicated team of researchers and writers.

For more information please visit: http://www.edsmart.org/

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Lehi, UT -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/27/2015 -- Sexual assault is a serious and life changing crime, and sadly its prevalence seems to be increasing among young people. In particular, college campuses seem to be rife with incidents. Several sources are reporting that sexual assaults have jumped 61% in just two years across college campuses, while CNN have produced a documentary entitled The Hunting Ground, bringing the issue of college rape into the limelight. EdSmart has just published a new study showing college sexual assault statistics of top ranked schools, which has some alarming implications.

So-called 'Party Schools' are reported to experience 600% more on-campus sexual assaults than 'Stone-Cold-Sober' schools, though the scale has several points between these extremes. Equally, the 'Least Religious' schools are reported to experience 3400% more on-campus sexual assaults than the 'Most Religious' schools, which may say more about the prevalence of reporting and open discussion.

Equally alarming correlations include 'Most Liberal Student' schools experiencing 1800% more on-campus sexual assaults than the 'Most Conservative Student' schools. Moving away from percentages, the data can be interpreted in equally polemic ways, with one alleged forcible sex offence taking place on campus every two and a half hours.

The data seems to match with older studies, which found women in Sororities were 74% more likely to be raped and Fraternity men were more likely to commit sexual assault. Despite alarming interpretations, EdSmart urged caution when reviewing the figures.

A spokesperson for EdSmart explained, "We always urge caution when interpolating data from these kinds of studies. What we see are loose associations, for the most part, and these indicate a correlation and not a causation. We are not suggesting liberals are rapists, nor should the data be seen to say that. At the same time, the data is invaluable for women considering college attendance in helping them make informed decisions and mitigating risk factors. More importantly, it confronts colleges with the immediate responsibility to change the environment young people are entering when trying to get an education."

About EdSmart
EDsmart offers interesting and compelling data for students, professors and research. They regularly publish new studies and interpret the data within to offer illumination to the general public on matters of education.

For more information please visit: http://www.edsmart.org

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm