For years, Mills College has appeared among the top 75 liberal arts colleges in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. This year is no exception.

Adding to its prestige, the independent liberal arts college for women debuted on The Princeton Review's 2006 edition of The Best 361 Colleges -- making it one of only 11 new colleges considered for the list this year.

Not bad for a school that has an estimated 1,336 students.

Mills, whose graduate program includes both men and women, was especially recognized for such things as its diverse student population and staff, high graduation rate, small class sizes and academic programs.

"Here we have very small classes, and students have close contact with the staff," said Mills President Janet L. Holmgren. "We have a nationally-ranked faculty, and a group of like-minded women committed to seeing every woman here succeed and prosper."

With alumnae such as former Secretary of State March Fong Eu, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, United Nations Executive Director Thoraya Obaid and media personality Renel Brooks-Moon, Mills continues to do just that.

It's good to know that in the Bay Area's own backyard lies an educational gem that has earned its national acclaim.

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