Purdue keeps up its golden standard

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Purdue kept its top-25 ranking among public U.S. universities and is 65th among all universities.

The most recent U.S. News & World Report ranks Purdue 23rd in public universities, in a tie with Texas A&M University. Purdue was also ranked 23rd last year.

It was 65th overall, tied again with Texas A&M and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Last year, however, Purdue was ranked 62nd overall.

The magazine recognized Purdue for excellence in other fields.

The University was ranked 11th overall and eighth among public universities for being an “up and coming” school with innovative changes.

Purdue was also mentioned in areas where schools are listed but not ranked: First-Year Experience, Writing in the Disciplines, Learning Communities, and Internships.

"These rankings and acknowledgements reflect the strong emphasis we have placed on student success," said Timothy Sands, Purdue's acting president. "With the efforts of faculty and staff, we continue to make strides in improving the academic experience of all our students."

Purdue was also mentioned in the “Foreign Student Factor” category – universities with a significant number of international undergrad students.

"It is gratifying to be acknowledged for our progress in ensuring that students who come to Purdue are successful," said Vic Lechtenberg, acting provost and chief academic officer. "It also is significant that our College of Engineering and Krannert School of Management continue to be recognized among the nation's best programs."

Purdue’s College of Engineering and Krannert School of Management earned overall rankings of 10th and 21st, respectively.

Engineering was ranked 10th nationally among doctoral-granting universities. It tied with Princeton and University of Texas’ programs.

In engineering specialties, Purdue retained its top ranking in biological/agricultural, was fourth in aerospace/aeronautical and tied for fourth in industrial.

The Krannert School of Management tied for 21st with Pennsylvania State University and the University of Maryland, up from 24th in 2011.

In management specialties, Purdue ranked third in production/operations management and fifth in quantitative analysis/methods.

The data for determining the nation's best institutions of higher education come from questionnaires U.S.News sends to all accredited four-year colleges and universities.

The magazine then determines its rankings based on measures that fall into seven broad categories: assessment by administrators at peer institutions; retention of students; faculty resources; student selectivity; financial resources; alumni giving; and "graduation rate performance," the difference between the proportion of students expected to graduate and those who actually do.

U.S.News bases its specialty rankings on a spring 2012 survey of deans and department heads at peer institutions. The programs receiving the most votes are listed.

U.S.News' college guidebook, "America's Best Colleges," contains a directory of the more than 1,400 institutions. Information on the rankings can be found at the U.S.News & World Report website .