The University of Denver is keeping its place among the top national universities in the 2010 U.S. News & World Report college rankings.
The magazine’s annual rankings for undergraduate education, released August 20, again places DU among the nation’s top-100 universities. DU ranks 84th — up five positions from last year — tied with American University, Marquette University and the Stevens Institute of Technology.
DU ranked high for its freshman retention rate (88 percent); its acceptance rate (64 percent) and percentage of full-time faculty (74 percent). Additionally, the rankings recognize DU for having small class sizes — more than 65 percent of DU classes have fewer than 20 students — and for a first-year class that includes 43 percent who graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school class.
In addition, DU ranks No. 8 — tied with the University of Southern California and the University of Vermont — in the “Up and Coming National Universities” category. The category spotlights universities regarded by top college officials as “making promising and innovative changes.”
Provost Gregg Kvistad says the recognition acknowledges DU’s commitment to excellence.
“DU is committed to graduating students who are immersed in scholarship, engaged in the community and grounded in ethics,” Kvistad says. “The academic strength of the University continues to grow and we are pleased to be recognized nationally for our accomplishments.”
IN addition to being recognized in the rankings, the University also is featured in a special section of the publication called “Road Trip.” This year, the magazine toured Colorado’s leading universities and spotlighted DU, Colorado College, Colorado State University and the University of Colorado-Boulder.
For the story, writer Alison Go focuses on DU’s international offerings and the Cherrington Global Scholars program.
“Some schools live for basketball or football season; others trade on their centuries-old legacies,” Go writes. “At the University of Denver, however, the defining college experience is study abroad.”
Go also highlights DU’s emerging bike lending library initiative as a great way to get around campus and gives a nod to the University’s prime spot at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, adding, “DU likens itself to a classic East or West Coast liberal arts school — albeit with much better skiing.”
DU’s U.S. News ranking is based on its Carnegie Foundation category as a doctoral/research university with high research activity. U.S.News & World Report collects data on as many as 15 indicators of academic quality within each category.