DePaul University joined an elite group of seven schools cited by TIME magazine and The Princeton Review for making access to education a top priority. The honor was recognized in the 1998 edition of "The Best College for You."

DePaul was noted for its strong commitment to the Chicago metropolitan area and its success in recruiting a diverse student body and faculty. It was the only Illinois university cited in the magazine.

"DePaul is driven by its Vincentian mission to create a learning environment that can attract, retain and enable the success of the diverse peoples in our urban population," said the Rev. John P. Minogue, C.M., president of DePaul. "For a century, DePaul has found Chicago to be a campus of extraordinary learning opportunities, and our 70,000 area alumni have contributed to the region's vitality. It is an honor to have our students, staff and faculty recognized."

Maryam Ahmad, special assistant to the president on diversity, said the honor indicates society's support for DePaul's outreach efforts.

"We recognize that the successful education of a diverse student population requires the presence of a diverse faculty and staff," Ahmad said. "Without such a commitment, we would fail to achieve our mission."

DePaul's commitment to diversity and access stretch to the university's founding in 1898, when DePaul welcomed the children of Chicago's immigrants into its classrooms.

To remain accessible, DePaul has strengthened its financial aid packages in recent years, awarding more than $66 million to deserving students during the 1995-96 school year.

The magazine said, "Like Chicago's extensive Catholic school system, this Catholic-run institution recruits heavily from the city's minority population." A member of the magazine's expert panel described DePaul as "an urban institution that has embraced the community and all the ethnic mixes."

This honor adds to a flurry of national recognition for DePaul. U.S. News and World Report rated DePaul's Kellstadt Graduate School of Business in the top 10 the last three years. SUCCESS magazine rated DePaul's Entrepreneurship program among its top 25 for the past four years, and Black Issues in Higher Education noted that DePaul was among the top 50 schools in the country awarding degrees to minorities in eight separate categories. Money magazine named DePaul a top 10 best value based on financial aid offered.

Florida A&M University was named College of the Year in the TIME/Princeton Review. The publication also cited DePauw University in Indiana, the University of Iowa, the University of California, Los Angeles, Trinity College of Connecticut and the University of California system as finalists.