By Diane Heldt, The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Sept. 13–The University of Iowa rose one spot in the annual best college rankings released by U.S. News & World Report.
The UI rose one spot from last year when looking at both its overall national rank — 71st — and its rank when looking at only public universities — 28th. That was among the 268 public and private schools ranked in the national universities category.
Iowa State University ranked 97th overall and 44th among public universities, a decline of three spots from last year.
The magazine’s annual Best Colleges guide for 2012 was released today. The guide will be on newsstands Sept. 20.
Harvard and Princeton tied for first in the 2012 rankings; University of California-Berkeley was the top public university on the list.
In the Midwest regional universities category, the University of Northern Iowa ranked 16th overall and second among public schools. Drake University in Des Moines ranked third overall in that category.
In the national liberal arts category, Grinnell College was 19th, Luther College was 86th, Cornell College was 94th and Coe College was 102nd.
Mount Mercy University ranked 24th nationally in the Midwest regional college category. Loras College and Clarke College, both in Dubuque, ranked 13th and 18th, respectively, in that category.
The annual survey studies more than 1,400 schools and ranks them based on peer assessment, academic reputation, retention, faculty resources, student selectivity, graduation rates and other factors.|
