U.S. News rankings: Iowa State remains among top 25 percent of public national universities

AMES, Iowa - Iowa State University is again among the top one-fourth of all public national universities in U.S. News & World Report's 2012 "America's Best Colleges" annual rankings out today.

Iowa State is tied for 44th among 172 best national public universities and 97th overall in the "Best National Universities" category, which includes 280 American universities (172 public, 101 private, and seven for-profit) that offer a broad range of undergraduate majors, as well as master's and doctoral degrees. Last year, Iowa State ranked 41st among public universities and 94th among all national universities.

In biological/agricultural engineering, Iowa State is the 2nd ranked program among all national universities, and 2nd among public universities (tied with the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign).

U.S. News ranks undergraduate engineering programs that are accredited by ABET (formerly known as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology). The rankings are based solely on a survey of engineering deans and senior faculty at all accredited programs, conducted during spring 2011. Among public universities' engineering schools whose highest degree is a doctorate, ISU's College of Engineering ranks 22nd (tied with the University of California, Santa Barbara). Among all national universities, Iowa State's engineering program ranks 38th (a three-way tie with the University of California, Santa Barbara; Washington University in St. Louis; and Yale University, New Haven, Conn.). Last year, Iowa State was tied for 23rd among public programs and ranked 40th overall.

Iowa State's College of Business is ranked 46th among public institutions, compared to a tie for 50th one year ago. The College of Business is ranked 81st (tied with 15 other schools) among AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business)-accredited programs, up from 88th last year.

Iowa State also is listed alphabetically among 86 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."

In addition, Iowa State is included U.S. News' top 100 rankings by high school counselors. In spring 2011, guidance counselors from U.S. News' "Best High Schools" rankings, as well as counselors from the largest private independent schools nationwide, rated which national universities and liberal arts colleges they think offer the best undergraduate education. Iowa State is among 24 schools tied for the No. 100 spot.

The 350-page 2012 edition of the Best Colleges guidebook is available at www.USNews.com, available on newsstands beginning Sept. 20.