Full list of MN's U.S. News and World Report rankings
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The waiting game is over -- for this year
I've posted other college rankings before, but here's the granddaddy: U.S. News & World Report's.
The magazine looks at 16 factors among 1,400 accredited four-year schools. As usual, critics say the rankings are arbitrary -- and pressure colleges to boost scores at the expense of improving their teaching.
"There's the old cliche: Presidents love rankings when they're good, and then they're not, they think they don't matter," joked Hamline University President Linda Hanson, whose institution placed 9th among Midwest regional universities.
That said, consistency in rankings reflects some degree of accuracy, she said, and U.S. News' are fairly stable. She said donors, alumni and parents ask her about them on occasion, and the rankings "are one more barometer of how we're doing in the marketplace. They help us keep an eye on factors we need to be watching."
Below is the list of how Minnesota's schools ranked. Note that some institutions are tied with others for their position.
Best National Universities
64 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
124 University of St. Thomas
183 St. Mary's University of Minnesota
Top 50 Public National Universities
23 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Best Regional Universities - Midwest
9. Hamline University
17. Bethel University
17. St. Catherine University
22. Augsburg College
24. College of St. Scholastica
34. University of Minnesota - Duluth
49. Winona State University
65. Minnesota State University - Mankato
81. St. Cloud State University
84. Minnesota State University - Moorhead
92. Bemidji State University
95. Concordia University
104. Southwest Minnesota State University
Second-tier schools ranked 108-142, listed alphabetically: Metropolitan State University (did not participate)
Top Public Regional Universities: 7. University of Minnesota - Duluth
Best Regional Colleges - Midwest
15. Northwestern College
46. Crown College
50. University of Minnesota - Crookston
70. North Central University
Second-tier schools ranked 74-95 listed alphabetically: Bethany Lutheran College (did not participate)
Top Public Regional Colleges - Midwest: 4. University of Minnesota - Crookston
Best National Liberal Arts Colleges
8. Carleton College
26. Macalester College
51. St. Olaf College
62. St. John's University
79. Gustavus Adolphus College
81. College of St. Benedict
137. Concordia College - Moorhead
The High School Counselors' Picks (New list)
National Universities: 47. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
National Liberal Arts Colleges
20. Macalester College
28. Carleton College
36. St. Olaf College
Best Undergrad Engineering Programs
Schools Whose Highest Degree is a Doctorate: 22. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Best in the Specialties - Chemical: 3. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Best Business Programs
19. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities (Carlson)
Best in the Specialties - Management Information Systems: 5. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
A Strong Commitment to Teaching
National Liberal Arts Colleges
1. Carleton College
7. Macalester College
9. St. Olaf College
25. College of St. Benedict
34. St. John's University
Regional Universities - Midwest: 6. Augsburg College
A Strong Focus on Student Success (listed alphabetically)
Senior Capstone: Carleton College
Study Abroad:Carleton College, College of St. Benedict, Macalester College, St. John's University, St. Olaf College, Univerity of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects:Carleton College, Macalester College
Writing in the Disciplines: Carleton College
A-Plus Schools for B Students (listed alphabetically)
National Universities: University of St. Thomas
National Liberal Arts Colleges:College of St. Benedict; Concordia College - Moorhead; St. John's University; University of Minnesota - Morris
Regional Universities - Midwest: Bethel University; College of St. Scholastica; Hamline University; St. Catherine University; University of Minnesota - Duluth
Regional Colleges - Midwest: Northwestern College
Great Schools, Great Prices
National Liberal Arts Colleges
18. Macalester College
25. Carleton College
Regional Universities - Midwest: 12. Hamline University
Colleges With a Specialty (listed alphabetically)
College of Visual Arts
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Seeking Diversity
Valuing Economic Differences / National Liberal Arts Colleges: Carleton College (11% Pell Grants)
The Foreign Student Factor / National Liberal Arts Colleges: Macalester College (13% international)
Most Debt for Class of 2009
Regional Universities - Midwest: College of St. Scholastica ($40,401)
Up-and-Comers
National Liberal Arts Colleges: 3. College of St. Benedict
This year, the rankings added high-school guidance counselors' opinions to the mix and are broken out in a separate list. More schools were ranked this year, a reflection of both increased consumer demand and improved data collection, a rankings official said.
The survey now displays the rank of the top 75 percent of schools in each category, up from 50 percent. The schools in the bottom tier are displayed alphabetically.
The magazine also publishes a list of "Up and Comers," based on a survey of college administrators who were asked to nominate schools they think are making promising and innovative changes, but no Minnesota schools were listed.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.