Area schools held steady in the rankings as U.S. News & World Report today released the 2008 edition of “America’s Best Colleges.” Nationally, Princeton University held the top spot, edging out Harvard for the second year in a row.

For the 12th consecutive year, Providence College tied for second place among 83 ranked schools in the northern United States granting master’s degrees, sharing the honor with Loyola College in Maryland. The two finished behind Villanova University in suburban Philadelphia, which held the top regional spot in the master’s degree category.

Bryant University in Smithfield, and Salve Regina University in Newport, came in 19th and 37th respectively in the same category.

Among 34 ranked comprehensive colleges granting bachelor’s degrees in the region, Roger Williams University in Bristol placed 10th, the same as last year.

Brown University held steady in 15th place among the nation’s best colleges academically and 16th among the 50 best dollar values in higher education across the country.

Among the 15 best dollar values for master’s degrees in the North, PC ranked 11th.

The full rankings will be published in the Aug. 27 issue of U.S. News & World Report, which will be on newsstands Monday. The 2008 survey is also available online at www.usnews.com/colleges beginning today.