U.S. News rankings: Iowa State is 50th among best public national universities

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State University comes in at No. 50 among the top public national universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2015 “America’s Best Colleges” rankings out today.

Iowa State tied with the University of Kansas, Lawrence; University of Oklahoma, Norman; University of Oregon, Eugene; and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, for 50th among 173 best national public universities, and is in a seven-way tie for 106th overall in the “Best National Universities” category, which includes 280 American universities offering a broad range of undergraduate majors, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees. Last year, Iowa State was in a six-way tie for 47th among publics and was 101st overall.

In biological/agricultural engineering, Iowa State is the 4th ranked program among all national universities, and 4th among public universities. In chemical engineering, ISU is ranked 15th among public universities and 22nd among all national universities.

Among public universities’ engineering schools whose highest degree is a doctorate, ISU’s College of Engineering ties for 23rd. Among all national universities, Iowa State’s engineering program ranks 41st (a seven-way tie with Arizona State University, Tempe; Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island; Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Colorado School of Mines, Golden; Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; and Washington University in St. Louis). Last year, Iowa State was 20th among public programs and in an eight-way tie for 35th overall.

Iowa State’s College of Business is tied for 50th among public institutions (up nine spots from last year), and tied for 79th overall (jumping 22 spots) among AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)-accredited programs.

Iowa State is again listed among national universities identified as “A-Plus Schools for B Students,” described as those schools “where non-superstars have a decent shot at being accepted and thriving – where spirit and hard work could make all the difference in admissions offices.”

In addition, Iowa State is again included (at No. 91) in U.S. News’ top 100 rankings by high school counselors. ISU is tied with 24 schools at the No. 91 spot; ties are a frequent occurrence in the U.S. News rankings.

The 2015 Best Colleges guidebook will be on newsstands Sept. 23.