MUNCIE, Ind. - Incoming freshmen at Ball State University will find their residence halls rank among the best in the country in a national publication.

The 2003 edition of "The Unofficial, Unbiased Insider's Guide to the 320 Most Interesting Colleges" lists Ball State among 27 schools nationally for having the top residence programs for freshmen. Ball State is the only Indiana college listed in the category.

Other universities listed in the best freshman housing category include Texas A&M, UCLA, Stanford, Penn State, Florida State, University of Illinois, Miami, Marshall and North Carolina.

Ball State is also listed with its Web site address under "Schools Not Profiled but Recommended by Guidance Counselors."

The guide's rankings are based on a national annual survey of guidance counselors by Kaplan's Publishing. Kaplan executive Trent Anderson, vice president for publishing and e-ventures, and Seppy Basilia, vice president of learning and assessment, share their opinions about trends on campuses, including which schools have changed for the better, which for the worse; which schools are overrated, which are underrated; where a competitive student might excel; and where a B student might shine.

The book costs $20 and contains information on 320 colleges and universities. It rates top colleges in such categories as best value, hidden treasure and hot schools.