The University of Denver caps off a year of accolades with a spot among the top 100 national universities included on the U.S. News and World Report list of “Best Colleges 2016.” The University is ranked 86 on the magazine’s list of national universities, up from No. 88 last year.
“The rise in the University’s ranking reflects our ongoing commitment to providing a transformative, holistic educational experience for all of our students, and to supporting top-notch faculty whose research and teaching help to create a better world,” says DU Chancellor Rebecca Chopp.
Last November, the Institute of International Education ranked the University of Denver No. 1 in the nation among national doctoral and research institutions in the percentage of undergraduate students who participate in study-abroad programs. The report, which reflects data from the 2012–13 academic year, shows that DU sent 71.7 percent of its undergraduates abroad, ahead of schools such as Yale, Stanford, Notre Dame and Dartmouth.
“Studying abroad is a critical element of a DU student’s education. Understanding the complexities of the world while taking academic classes abroad is a game-changer,” says Denise Cope, director of study abroad at the University of Denver. “Research indicates that intercultural development, language learning and attitudinal and behavioral changes occur as a result of study abroad.”
And in August, DU landed a spot in the Princeton Review’s Annual College Rankings Guide for 2016. The University took the No. 14 spot for “College City Gets High Marks,” which is based on answers to questions regarding the city or town where the school is located. The rankings are based on surveys of students from the 2014–15 school year.
Also giving the city of Denver high marks is Forbes magazine, which in July ranked the Mile High City No. 1 on its annual list of the Best Places for Business and Careers. “The Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metro area, home to 2.8 million people, is attractive for its diverse economy, highly educated labor force and outdoor recreational opportunities,” wrote Forbes staffer Kurt Badenhausen. “Companies are increasingly choosing Denver as the site for new operations or to relocate.” On a similar note, City Observatory, a website and think tank devoted to data-driven analysis of cities and the policies that shape them, recently reported that Denver is the third fastest-growing city in the nation for college graduates aged 25 to 34.