Abstract: The present invention provides an improved process for preparing a highly water absorbent resin having a superior suction power and excellent gel strength, which consists essentially of:(1) neutralizing acrylic acid to a neutralization degree ranging from 50 to 100% based on the total number of moles of the acid employed and polymerizing it by a reverse phase suspension polymerization to provide a neutralized polymer;(2) dehydrating the polymer until its water content reaches 25% by weight or less based on the weight of the polymer through an azeotropic distillation thereof in the presence of a lipophilic solvent;(3) crosslinking the dehydrated polymer in the presence of a hydrophilic crosslinking agent containing at least two epoxy groups in an amount ranging from 0.05 to 5.0% by weight and water added in an amount ranging from 7.0 to 25.