The Princeton Review - known for its college rankings based on how students rate their schools - has released the 2008 editions of its annual law and business school guidebooks which also feature rankings uniquely based on student surveys. "Best 170 Law Schools" and "Best 290 Business Schools" (Random House / Princeton Review, $22.95, October 9) each have 11 ranking lists of top 10 schools in various categories from "Best Professors" to "Best Career Prospects."

The Princeton Review compiled the lists based on its surveys of 18,000 students attending the 170 law schools and 19,000 students attending the 290 business schools in the books, and on school-reported data.

Among the ranking list categories in each book and the #1 schools on them:

"Best Professors":
Law school - Boston University / Business school - University of Virginia

"Best Career Prospects":
Law school - Northwestern University / Business school - Stanford University

"Best Classroom Experience" (a new ranking category in the books):
Law school - Loyola Marymount University / Business school - Indiana University-Bloomington

"Toughest to Get Into" (the only ranking based solely on school data):
Law school - Yale University / Business school - Stanford University

Some of the other lists in "Best 170 Law Schools" and #1 schools on them:

"Most Welcoming of Older Students"- City University of New York-Queens College
"Most Competitive Students" - Brigham Young University
"Best Quality of Life" - Chapman University.

Some of the other lists in "Best 290 Business Schools" and #1 schools on them:
"Greatest Opportunity for Women" - Mercer University-Atlanta
"Most Family Friendly" - Dartmouth College
"Best Campus Facilities" - Penn State University.

The Princeton Review has posted the ranking lists and information on how they are compiled at www.PrincetonReview.com where the lists can be searched by school or by category. Other ranking categories report the top 10 schools with the most diverse faculties, the most conservative or most liberal student bodies, and the greatest opportunities for minority students.

Said Robert Franek, VP / Publisher, Princeton Review, "We compile our ranking lists in multiple categories based on what students report to us about their schools to help applicants decide which of these academically outstanding schools is best for them." The schools in The Princeton Review guidebooks are not ranked academically nor are they ranked hierarchically in any single category.

The ranking lists are based on surveys of law and b-school students conducted during the 2006-07, 2005-06 and 2004-05 academic years. Most were completed online at The Princeton Review's student survey site:. The 80-question survey asks students about their school's academics, student body and campus life, themselves, and their career plans.

The school profiles in each book cover academics, admission, financial aid, campus life and career information. They include advice on funding the degrees and applying to the programs.