Two University of Nebraska-Lincoln programs – business and engineering – were ranked among the best in the United States, according to the latest U.S. News college rankings released Sept. 10.
The College of Business improved its position among the nation’s Top 50 undergraduate business schools, moving up to No. 44. The college was ranked No. 45 last year and No. 48 in 2016.
Kathy Farrell, James Jr. and Susan Stuart Endowed Dean of the College of Business, said the rankings reflect tangible contributions from many people – faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the college.
“We see the college guiding principles come to life every day before our eyes,” she said. “We emphasize how everyone should challenge themselves, be inclusive, ask bold questions, look to the future and make it matter. Those guiding principles set the tone for greatness and help result in higher rankings for our college.”
The College of Engineering was ranked No. 80 among U.S. undergraduate engineering programs, improving from No. 82 last year.
“The latest improvement in our ranking is one of many indicators of the college’s positive trajectory,” said Lance C. Pérez, dean of the College of Engineering and Omar H. Heins Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “Our enhanced national reputation is a direct reflection of the investments made in the college by the university, the state, Nebraska industry and donors.”
Overall, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln ranked No. 61 among 129 top public national universities and No. 129 among 301 national universities, both public and private.
Nebraska also was recognized as No. 95 among 145 national universities designated as best value schools and was included in a list of 96 institutions designated as “A+ Schools for B students.”
The “best value” designation is based on academic excellence compared to cost and financial aid, while top-scoring schools that admit a meaningful number of students without A averages in high school are designated as “A+ for B students.”
Those honors highlight Nebraska priorities, said Chancellor Ronnie Green.
“Access and affordability have been hallmarks of our institution for its nearly 150-year history,” he said. “We believe in the transformative power of higher education and provide opportunities for students to succeed, graduating a record number of 5,515 new degree holders in the past year.”
Green said he is pleased that Nebraska was recognized for both business and engineering excellence, the only two disciplinary academic areas evaluated in the U.S. News rankings.
For its 2019 rankings, U.S. News gathered data from more than 1,600 colleges and universities in spring 2018. Schools were divided into categories for comparison, such as national universities, national liberal arts colleges, regional universities and regional colleges. They were scored in 16 areas such as student outcomes, faculty resources, expert opinions, financial resources and alumni giving.
