U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT - AMERICA'S BEST COLLEGES 2008
Each year, U.S. News ranks colleges and universities across the country based on up to 15 indicators they believe represent academic quality. Schools are grouped into categories based on their mission, the highest level of degree conferred by discipline, and in some cases, by geographic region. Comparative charts for the various indicators are available by clicking on the links at the left.
For more information regarding U.S. News' definitions and processes, please visit their website at http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/about/rank_brief.php
National Universities - (OU, OSU, TU & ORU)
These universities offer a full range of undergraduate majors, as well as master's and doctoral degree; many strongly emphasize research
- University of Tulsa (#91) and the University of Oklahoma (#108) both continue to hold positions in the top half of the National University rankings.
- Oklahoma State University remains in the 3rdtier.
- Oral Roberts University is ranked in the National category (4th tier) for the first time.
- Ten of the Big XII universities are ranked in the top half of national universities; the remaining two are in the 3rd tier.
- Among the 150 institutions recognized for Best Undergraduate Business Programs, the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University are both included, at #58 and #83, respectively.
- The University of Oklahoma's International Business and Supply Chain Management/Logistics programs are recognized among U.S. News' best undergraduate business specialties.
- Among undergraduate engineering program (at institutions where doctorate is the highest degree offered), the University of Oklahoma ranked #76 and Oklahoma State University ranked #85.
- Oral Roberts University, the University of Tulsa, and the University of Oklahoma are included in the list for having the Highest Proportion of Classes with Fewer than 20 Students.
Master's Universities - West (CU, ECU, NSU, SEOSU, SWOSU, UCO, OCU, SNU & OC)
These universities provide a full range of undergraduate programs and some master's level programs. They offer few, if any, doctoral programs.
- Three private institutions are ranked in the top half of Master's Universities (West): Oklahoma City University (#23), Southern Nazarene University (#54), and Oklahoma Christian University (#58). Oklahoma Christian is new to this category, having been included with baccalaureate colleges in the 2007 rankings.
- Oklahoma's public master's institutions are listed in the 4th tier of the 2008 rankings.
- Cameron University led the list of 30 schools with the Least (Student) Debt, and the University of Central Oklahoma also received a positive mention on this list. Northeastern State University joined these two schools on the Cheapest Public Schools list which considers total in-state tuition and fees.
- East Central University was the only public institution to be included in the list for Highest Proportion of Classes with Fewer than 20 Students. Private institutions included on this list were Oklahoma City University, Southern Nazarene University, and Oklahoma Christian University.
- Oklahoma City University was again included in the Best Values list for this category.
- Three private universities (Oklahoma City University, Southern Nazarene University, and Oklahoma Christian University) were recognized on the Highest Graduation Rates list.
- Oklahoma City University was #1 on the list of Most International Students, with 20 percent.
- Several Oklahoma schools appeared on the Ethnic Diversity list with index values over 0.50, where the listing ranged from 0.06 to .072. Cameron University's score was 0.57, with African Americans comprising its largest minority population (at 20 percent). The index values for Northeastern State University and Southeastern Oklahoma State University were 0.53, and in both cases, 30 percent of their student enrollments were Native American.
Baccalaureate Colleges - West (LU, NWOSU, OPSU, USAO, RSU, OBU, OWU, SGU, MACU & BACONE )
- The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma is listed #1 on the list of Best Values which compares quality (overall score) to price. Oklahoma Baptist University and Oklahoma Wesleyan University were also cited, with rankings of #2 and #10, respectively.
- Oklahoma Baptist University moved up two spots to #3 among western baccalaureate colleges; Oklahoma Wesleyan University moved up to #7 from #12; and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma moved up to #14, after being listed in the 3rd tier in the 2007 rankings.
- Northwestern Oklahoma State University is included in the baccalaureate colleges category (after being included with master's universities last year). That institution and St. Gregory's University are both ranked in the 3rd tier for 2008.
- One public and two private Oklahoma colleges, which were previously not ranked by US News & World Report, are now among the 4th tier colleges for the 2008 rankings. These schools are: Rogers State University, Bacone College, and Mid-America Christian University.
- Northwestern Oklahoma State University, The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, Langston University, and Oklahoma Baptist University all garnered a spot on the Least Debt list.
- Oklahoma Baptist University, Oklahoma Wesleyan University, and Rogers State University were listed among this category's Highest Graduation Rates with rates of 55 percent, 42 percent, and 38 percent, respectively.
- Those cited for Highest Proportion of Classes Under 20 Students include St. Gregory's University (85 percent), Oklahoma Panhandle State University (80 percent), Northwestern Oklahoma State University (74 percent), and Oklahoma Baptist University (68 percent).
- Rogers State University was top among the Oklahoma schools on the Ethnic Diversity list, with an index value of 0.50 and a Native American population of 30 percent.
