Edwardsville, IL (PRWEB) September 10, 2013 -- U.S. News & World Report ranks Southern Illinois University Edwardsville among the best Regional Universities Midwest for the 10th consecutive year and among the top 10 public universities in that category. The listing is in the magazine’s “Best Colleges of 2014” issue that was released today.
SIUE moved up seven spots overall in the Regional Universities Midwest category from 49 a year ago to 42 in this year’s rankings. SIUE improved three spots to eighth overall among public universities in that category. The U.S. News overall scores are based on the reputation of SIUE in higher education, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving.
“Moving up in U.S. News’ annual rankings is particularly noteworthy as we position SIUE among the top universities in the Midwest,” said SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe. “Our efforts to improve in all areas are showing impressive results.
“Providing academic excellence at an affordable price and producing exceptional leaders for our community and region is SIUE’s hallmark. Our distinguished faculty and talented staff provide the type of individualized attention and unique experiences that prepare SIUE students for career success.”
SIUE’s steady growth during the past decade has continued with record enrollments for the Schools of Engineering, Nursing and Pharmacy for fall 2013. Meanwhile, undergraduate programs in the Schools of Education, Business and Nursing are enjoying enrollment increases.
SIUE is nearing completion of a nearly $300 million planned campus infrastructure update and construction phase. The new Science Building has opened for fall classes and renovation of the current Science Building will begin during 2014. The Art and Design Building addition was dedicated in March 2013. Earlier this month, the Art and Design Building was named a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold building. It is the first SIUE campus building to achieve that distinction from the U.S. Green Building Council.
Regional universities are considered to have a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s programs, but few doctoral programs. The 621 universities in this category are ranked against their peer group in one of four geo¬graphic regions (North, South, Midwest and West), because they tend to draw students most heavily from surrounding states.
The latest U.S. News rankings come on the heels of last month’s recognition by Washington Monthly that ranks SIUE among the top 60 master’s universities in the nation. In March, SIUE also was named by the Corporation for National and Community Service to the annual President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, which is a list of colleges and universities demonstrating a commitment to volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high quality, affordable education that prepares them for successful careers and lives of purpose. Built on the foundation of a broad-based liberal education, and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the academic preparation SIUE students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace and make our communities better places to live. Situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the natural beauty of the Mississippi River’s rich bottom land and only a short drive from downtown St. Louis, the SIUE campus is home to a diverse student body of nearly 14,000.
Doug McIlhagga, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, http://www.siue.edu, +1 (314) 402-8655, [email protected]
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