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U.S. News ranks DSU on top again
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By ELISA SAND, Staff Reporter
| 08/20/2009 |
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Dakota State University once again sits as the top-ranked public baccalaureate university, according to U.S. News & World Report. The magazine's annual listing of America's Best Colleges for 2010 was unveiled Thursday (today) revealing that DSU, for the fourth year in a row, is the top public baccalaureate university. DSU President Doug Knowlton said that achieving that consistent ranking is amazing.
"This recognition for the fourth year in a row is really an amazing testament to the university and all the staff, faculty, alumni and friends that have contributed to our success. To be the highest ranked and only public institution in the top tier of baccalaureate colleges in the Midwest is an indication of the progress and development of this very unique institution."
The top baccalaureate universities are divided by region with the top 45 public and private colleges and universities in the Midwest listed in the first tier. Only one of those universities -- DSU -- is a public institution ranking overall at No. 35.
Knowlton said that anomoly is because the ranking criteria is loaded toward private institutions.
"It's terrific for any public institution to get into the top tier," he said.
A variety of statistics are used to determine the ranking for each university. They include freshman retention, graduation rate, the number of classes offered with fewer than 20 students, the number of classes with 50 or more students, faculty salaries, the student acceptance rate to the university, and the number of accepted students who are in the top 10 percent or top 25 percent of their high school classes.
The percentage of alumni who give to the university is also taken into consideration, along with how other university presidents and vice presidents rate a university (listed as peer assessment).
Knowlton said he was particularly pleased to see DSU's peer assessment score increase from a 2.7 to a 2.9 (the maximum score is a 5.0). That score, he said, is a direct reflection on how other university personnel view DSU.
Other noteworthy increases, he said, include the fact that DSU's retention and graduation rates also increased because DSU has focused on improving both of those areas in recent years.
Ranking as second-highest public baccalaureate university in the Midwest is Valley City State University (North Dakota), which is now led by former DSU dean of student affairs Steve Shirley.
Third highest was Northern State University in Aberdeen.
As enrollment and graduation from DSU's master's and doctorate programs continue to grow, Knowlton said, those numbers will affect just how long DSU continues to appear on this ranking. Once enrollment reaches a specific threshhold, he said, DSU will enter a new category: Best Universities -- Master's.
Judy Payne, vice president for advancement, said that fund-raising is affected by the ranking because of how it is viewed by faculty, staff and alumni.
"They take such pride in these rankings for obvious reasons," she said. "You have to believe it will help with fund-raising efforts in the capital campaign."
"Pride in the institution is one of those things that help us get out there," Knowlton said.
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