Ave Maria University has made Newsweek Magazine's annual list of the nation's best colleges, being named one of the 25 "Most Desirable Rural Schools" in rankings released recently. Noting that "the Roman Catholic university remains small and close-knit," Newsweek cites the quality of AMU's students and its faculty-student ratio of 11:1 in ranking AMU 16th in the category. "We are delighted to have been ranked in the top 25 most desirable rural schools, especially since the rankings include such venerable institutions as Dartmouth College, Colgate University, Williams College and Bucknell University," said AMU President Nick Healy in reaction to the news. "While we have been confident of the quality of the education we offer, it is always gratifying to have that quality recognized by a national news magazine,"

Mr. Healy added. Newsweek lists what it considers the 25 colleges and universities that are most desirable in each of six categories: overall, small schools, large schools, urban schools, rural schools and suburban schools. The magazine says that in its rankings, it considers factors such as the "quality of education, 'good teaching' and intelligence of the students." The top five schools in the "most desirable rural schools" category are: Dartmouth College (NH), Williams College (MA), Amherst College (MA), Bowdoin College (ME) and Middlebury College (VT). The full list is on Newsweek's site here.

Ave Maria, Florida - A brand new ultra-conservative Catholic University and town has been funded largely by Thomas S. Monaghan, the 70+ years old, founder of Domino's Pizza and former owner of the Detroit Tigers baseball team.

It is the country's first new so-called "true" Roman Catholic university in four decades. The new town "Ave Maria, Florida" opens July 21, 2007. A cornerstone ceremony was held on March 25, 2006.

According to reports, the town square includes one of the nation's largest Catholic churches and crucifix.

Monaghan says the $240 million first phase of the campus plans to be centered around the "Oratory of Ave Maria," a 60,000 square-foot church equipped with aluminum and glass arches.

The nearly 100 foot church will reportedly contain the nation's largest crucifix in stained glass with a 60 foot high bleeding Jesus. Officials say the church will be the largest fixed-seating Catholic church in the nation, with room for 3,333 to 3,500 parishioners.

The university campus has been constructed in the "prairie style" of simple lines made famous by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. It is said to include a gymnasium that will seat 2,500, a science, math and technology center, a library and a student activities center.

The school will not be associated with any church Diocese or church order but will claim to teach the "true Catholicism."