For the 23rd consecutive year, the University of Portland has received a top-ten ranking by U.S. News & World Report, which recently released its 2018 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. The University is 6th out of 126 institutions listed in the “Regional Universities – West” classification. The full rankings can be seen on the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking website.
Among notable measures in the U.S. News methodology was the University’s remarkable 90% first-year retention rate and an annual graduation rate of 78%.
In addition, the University’s Shiley School of Engineering’s reputation for excellence continues to rise nationally. This year the Shiley School appeared in the top 30 nationwide for the first time, with a ranking of 29th among engineering schools whose highest degree is a bachelor’s or master’s.
Per U.S. News & World Report, regional institutions are those that provide a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s programs, but few, if any, doctoral programs. The 659 universities in this category are not ranked nationally but rather against peers in one of four regions – North, South, Midwest and West – because they tend to draw students most heavily from surrounding states.
U.S. News’ methodology for this category weighs heavily on student retention rates, peer assessment, and faculty resources, as well as on student selectivity, financial resources earmarked for educational purposes, and the alumni giving rate.
Last month, The Princeton Review ranked the University of Portland fifth in the nation among colleges and universities whose students are making a positive impact in their communities through volunteer service, on-campus engagement, and other meaningful contributions.
The University has consistently been the top Oregon school in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Forbes Magazine in their annual rankings of best values in universities.