AMES, Iowa - Iowa State University is again among the top one-fourth of all public national universities in U.S. News & World Report's 2011 "America's Best Colleges" annual rankings released today.
Iowa State is tied for 41st among 164 best national public universities and 94th in the "Best National University" category, which includes 262 American universities (164 public and 98 private) that offer a broad range of undergraduate majors, as well as master's and doctoral degrees. Last year, Iowa State ranked 39th among public universities and 88th among all national universities.
For the ninth consecutive year, U.S. News places Iowa State in an elite group of colleges and universities that provide learning communities. Iowa State is one of only 24 institutions recognized in this category.
U.S. News also ranks undergraduate engineering programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. The rankings are based solely on a spring 2010 peer survey of deans and senior engineering faculty nationwide. Among public universities' engineering schools whose highest degree is doctorate, Iowa State's College of Engineering is tied for 23rd. Among all national universities, Iowa State's engineering program ranks 40th. Last year, Iowa State ranked 22nd among public programs and 37th overall.
In the specialty area of biological/agricultural engineering, Iowa State is the 4th ranked program among all national universities. U.S. News this year reduced the number of universities recognized in engineering specialties. Last year, Iowa State was among the top 20 national public universities in aerospace, chemical, civil and materials engineering.
Iowa State's College of Business is ranked 50th (tie) among AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)-accredited public programs, compared with 49th one year ago. Overall, the college ranks 88th, compared with 83rd last year.
U.S. News also includes Iowa State in two Top 100 categories: most transfer students and most students receiving merit financial aid.
Highlights of the annual rankings are scheduled for publication in the September issue of U.S. News & World Report magazine, available on newsstands beginning Aug. 31. For more information, log on to www.usnews.com/colleges.