For the fifth consecutive year, the Princeton Review has named Old Dominion University among the best colleges in the Southeast.

According to a press release, The Princeton Review’s 2021 Best Colleges: Region by Region list profiles more than 600 institutions. The Southeastern list showcases the top 142 schools in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee.

Institutions featured in the publication met criteria for academic excellence in their regions. Students, who were interviewed anonymously, were asked 70 questions about academics, campus life and the student body.

Students at Old Dominion cited it as a “research-oriented” institution with professors who offer “informative lectures and study materials and gear their classes not just towards theoretical knowledge, but real-world application.”

Respondents also touted ODU for its diverse and inclusive campus, where “freedom of expression is always encouraged.”

Students praised such features as counseling, health care, accessibility and the writing center, which “allows students to bring in papers to have them reviewed by a professional so we can receive tips that will help to strengthen our writing.”

Last month, Old Dominion was named a world leader in addressing inequality in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2020. Last fall, ODU was named a 2020 Best National University by U.S. News & World Report, which also cited Old Dominion as one of the nation’s Top Public Schools for diversity for social mobility.

“There is a reason why Old Dominion continues to rise in these regional, national and even international rankings,” said President John R. Broderick. “These measurements reflect the dedicated efforts of our faculty, staff and administrators, who work very hard to provide our students with world-class and cutting-edge education in an environment well-known for its diversity and inclusivity. We are clearly on the move.”