The powers that be at Widener University certainly knew what they were doing, when in 2006 they changed the school’s nickname from Pioneers to Pride, even if the latter is also defined as a pack of lions.

After all, studies indicate that Widener students, on average, have more pride for their school than their counterparts at other private colleges.

The pride runs deep in Chester, with nearly three quarters of Widener students saying they would choose the school again if they had to do it all over.

Widener met or exceeded expectations for 83 percent of students on the national Noel Levitz Students Satisfaction Inventory, and 72 percent of students would choose Widener if they had to make their college choice again.

Both are record-high responses for Widener in student satisfaction, and are an average of six percentage points higher than the norm for four-year private colleges and universities in the eastern region of the United States.

The university also received the highest-ever average scores for satisfaction in the areas of instructional effectiveness, concern for the individual, student centeredness, recruitment and financial aid, campus climate, registration effectiveness, service excellence, campus support services, and campus life.

“This is certainly a point of pride,” said Widener University President Julie E. Wollman. “We achieved the highest levels of student satisfaction since the survey was first launched in 2007. We want Widener to be students’ first choice when they are considering college, and this is a very positive step in that direction.”