Appalachian is one of region’s best universities according to U.S. News &
World Report
Posted August 22, 2008 at 8:28 am · By ASU News
Filed under Awards, Honors and Promotions, General
BOONE—Appalachian State University rose to the No. 9 spot in the “Best
Universities-Master’s in the South” category in U.S. News & World Report’s
2009 America’s Best Colleges Guide. Appalachian tied with the College of
Charleston for the ninth-place ranking.
The university also climbed to fourth place in the magazine’s South’s top
public master-degree granting universities category, also in a tie with the
College of Charleston.
Appalachian has placed among the top 15 southern universities since the
rankings first appeared in 1986.
In addition, for the first time U.S. News has listed “Up-and-coming Masters
Universities” in the South. Appalachian appears third on the list.
Appalachian also is included in the magazine’s first-year experiences and
learning communities listing in the “Programs to Look For” category.
“Appalachian continues to rise to new levels of excellence,” said Chancellor
Kenneth E. Peacock. “It’s no secret that Appalachian offers top academic
programs, has highly qualified faculty and staff, and provides the mentorship
and support that helps our students make a difference in the state, nation
and world. However, it is always gratifying to see the outstanding work of
our faculty, staff and administrators recognized.”
To develop the rankings, the magazine considers information from a peer
assessment survey (25 percent of ranking), six-year graduation rate (20
percent), per student spending on academic programs (10 percent), SAT or ACT
score of incoming freshmen (7.5 percent), average faculty compensation
adjusted for regional cost of living (7 percent), percent of freshman class
who graduated in the top 25 percent of their high school class (6 percent)
and percent of classes with 19 students or fewer (6 percent).
Other areas considered in the rankings are average freshman retention rate (5
percent) alumni giving (5 percent of score), percent of faculty with highest
terminal degree (3 percent), number of classes with 50 or more students—the
fewer the better—(2 percent), acceptance rate (1.5 percent), student/faculty
ratio (1 percent) and the percent of full-time faculty (1 percent).
“I am particularly pleased to see Appalachian’s continued commitment to
freshmen through the First Year Seminar and other programs and our focus on
service learning recognized in this national publication,” said Provost and
Executive Vice Chancellor Stan Aeschleman.
Universities and Colleges appearing in the Top Public Universities-Master’s
south category were:
1. James Madison University
2. The Citadel
3. University of Mary Washington
4. Appalachian State University
4. College of Charleston
6. UNC Wilmington
7. Murray State University
8. Tennessee Technological University
8. Winthrop
10. Western Kentucky University
11. Longwood University
12. Mississippi University for Women
13. University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
14. Radford University
14. Western Carolina University
Placing in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Universities-Master’s in the South
were:
1. Rollins College
2. Elon University
3. Stetson University
4. James Madison University
5. The Citadel
5. Loyola University
7. University of Mary Washington
8. Mercer University
9. Appalachian State University
9. College of Charleston
11. Belmont University
12. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
13. Spring Hill College
14. UNC Wilmington
Highlights of the college rankings will be published in the Sept. 1 issue of
U.S. News & World Report, available for newsstand purchase Aug. 25. The 2009
America’s Best Colleges guidebook will be available Aug. 26.
