Ranks ninth among top regional public universities in the North
U.S. News & World Report released its yearly “Best Colleges” rankings, naming Fredonia as the ninth best “Top Public Regional University in the North” within its 2015 edition, up from 14th a year ago.
In the larger category of both public and private institutions in the North, Fredonia tied for 41st, up from 60th in 2014 among the “Best Regional Universities,” which the publication defines as 620 universities nationwide that offer primarily bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Only two other SUNY schools appear higher than Fredonia on this year’s list.
Fredonia once again performed especially well in the category of first-year retention rates, with an impressive 81 percent of first-year students returning for their sophomore year. In addition, its first-year acceptance rate remained at a selective 52 percent, along with a graduation rate of 65 percent. Features such as small class sizes, favorable student-to-faculty ratios, high school grades and college entrance exam scores, assessment by administrators at peer institutions, and alumni giving are also factored into the process.
“My colleagues and I are pleased to be recognized once again by U.S. News & World Report as among the top universities in the North,” said Fredonia President Virginia Horvath. “Fredonia faculty and staff focus on many of the measures used in their methodology, such as four-year graduation rates, student retention, small class sizes, and a low student-to-faculty ratio — which is an impressive 15:1 today.
“Those focus areas are important in developing graduates who are skilled, creative, connected and responsible global citizens and professionals,” Dr. Horvath added. “These commitments are much harder to measure in a rankings system, but Fredonia faculty and staff see them as equally vital in every student’s education and development.”
“Again this year, we are proud to see so many of our SUNY campuses recognized as being among the best nationally by U.S. News and World Report,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “In every community across New York State, SUNY colleges and universities like Fredonia offer students top quality degree programs and applied learning opportunities that prepare them for success in today’s 21st-century global economy. Congratulations to each of the SUNY campuses making the list for 2015!”
The annual rankings represent a comprehensive look at how schools stack up based on a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. The rankings aim to help students evaluate and compare data compiled from nearly 1,365 ranked colleges and universities. The publication’s “North” region includes nearly 200 four-year universities in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Fredonia has been ranked as a Best College every year since 1989.
The publication also recognizes the study’s limitations: “The host of intangibles that make up the college experience can’t be measured by a series of data points.” However, the authors state, when combined with college visits, interviews, and student preferences, these rankings “can be a powerful tool in your quest for the right college.”
