Illinois State University again placed in the top 100 public universities in the nation, advancing two spots to 83rd in the U.S. News & World Report rankings of “Best National Universities” released Wednesday.
In the report, Illinois State’s average freshman retention rate rose, while the percent of large class sizes went down. “These numbers are a reflection of Illinois State’s commitment to giving students the highest quality education in an environment where they can thrive,” said President Al Bowman. “They are a validation of our priority of keeping class sizes low.”
The University also showed a higher selectivity of applicants, with a reduction of
4 percent in Illinois State’s acceptance rate from the previous year. “We will continue our efforts to attract and retain the highest quality students,” said Bowman.
The latest U.S. News & World Report rankings are based on 2011 statistics of academic quality and excellence. Factors include an undergraduate academic reputation index that is guided by information from high school counselors as well as college and university presidents, provosts and deans. Other factors include student retention, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving, and graduation rate performance.
