University of Scranton a ‘Top 10’ pick by U.S. News for 20 Consecutive Years

Oct 1, 2013

 For two decades, U.S. News & World Report consistently ranked The University of Scranton among the top ten “Best Regional Universities in the North.” In its just published 2014 listing, Scranton ranked No. 8 in this category, and was recognized among the nation’s best values in higher education and for its commitment to teaching. U.S. News also ranked the University among America’s “up and coming” school to watch.

Scranton was among just 61 universities in the nation recognized for making “the most promising and innovative changes in area of academics, faculty, student life, campus or facilities.” The University ranked No. 2 in its category based on the number of nominations received by college presidents, provosts and admissions deans from across the country.

The University was among only 60 colleges in the nation listed for expressing “A Strong Commitment to Teaching,” ranked at No. 4 in its category. Scranton was also among just 15 universities in its category recognized among “Great Schools at Great Prices,” which compares academic quality of programs to cost of attendance.

 “We are pleased to be so consistently counted among the nation’s best for quality and value in higher education, and are especially gratified that our faculty are recognized by U.S. News for their commitment to teaching,” said University President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J. “The 20th consecutive top 10 ranking by U.S. News is a fitting addition to the University’s celebration of the 125th anniversary of our founding.”

In its overall ranking, U.S. News categorizes the University among the “Best Regional Universities,” which is based on the official Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classification of universities. This category consists of 621 institutions nationwide that offer a full range of undergraduate and master’s level programs, but offer few, if any, doctoral-level programs. The universities in this category are ranked within four geographic regions in the nation.

U.S. News bases its ranking on a range of quality indicators that include peer assessment (22.5 percent); graduation and freshman retention (22.5 percent); faculty resources (20 percent); student selectivity (12.5 percent); financial resources (10 percent); and alumni giving (5 percent); and graduation performance rates (7.5 percent), a new measure this year that compares a school’s actual graduation rates with predicted graduation rates based on characteristics of the incoming class. In another listing that looks at how students fare at college, the University was named in a listing of “A-Plus Schools for B Students.”

The 2014 U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” rankings became available online Sept. 10.

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