UB receives highest ratings ever among the best public and national universities

UB has achieved an all-time high ranking among the nation’s best public and national universities, according to U.S. News and World Report.

UB is rated among the “top 50” public universities in the nation for the fourth straight year. UB’s ranking, at No. 41, is up two places from last year’s No. 43.

UB also achieved its highest rating ever among the best national universities — public and private — in the country, at No. 97, up two places from last year’s No. 99 and the third straight year UB has been ranked among the “top 100.” Over the past 10 years, UB has risen 24 spots in the rankings. 

The latest rankings were released today in the magazine’s 2018 Best Colleges issue.

In addition, UB, the University of California, Irvine, and the University of Illinois are tied at No. 3 among national public universities for proportion of international students, with 16 percent.

U.S. News based its rankings on an assessment of more than 1,600 of the country’s four-year colleges and universities, in addition to data reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

UB’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences is again top ranked by U.S. News, rated No. 70 among the country’s best undergraduate engineering programs at schools whose highest degree is a doctorate. The School of Management is also highly rated, at No. 78, among more than 700 accredited schools.

“UB continues to invest in undergraduate education and student services — from our new undergraduate curriculum to our state-of-the-art Silverman Library — which have significantly enhanced the academic experience at UB. We are pleased to receive national recognition for our academic programs,” says Charles F. Zukoski, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.

Zukoski noted that UB achieved record undergraduate enrollment for the 2016-17 academic year and is expecting to report near-record undergraduate enrollment this year as well.

UB’s rise the rankings this year is due to its improvement in several of the ranking metrics used by U.S. News, including UB’s reputation ranking among the university’s peers, an increase in SAT scores, an increase in the number of classes under 20 students and improving its graduation rate.

UB also was ranked among the Best Colleges for Veterans, at No. 58, and among the Best Value Schools, at No. 108.

Additionally, the university was ranked an A+ school for B students by U.S. News, named as a university where students with good grades and a strong aptitude for learning have “a good chance at being accepted and thriving, where spirit and hard work could make all the difference to the admissions office.”

UB was among a number of public universities that are members of the Association of American Universities included in the ranking. The other public universities are Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan State, Missouri, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue and Rutgers.

“Each of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities help our students find their purpose and their passion. Whether it’s in research, education, outreach or engagement, our colleges and universities strive to achieve excellence in everything they do,” says SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson.

“We are thrilled that so many of our SUNY campuses have again received favorable rankings by U.S. News and World Report,” she says. “While we appreciate that rankings are one indication of quality, it does help demonstrate that SUNY is one of the best national education systems. Congratulations to each of the SUNY campuses recognized by the 2018 U.S. News and World Report rankings.”