Want more state education news? Sign up for The Alabama Education Lab’s free, weekly newsletter, Ed Chat.
U.S. News & World Report is out with the list of 2022 Best Colleges, ranking more than 1,400 of the nation’s colleges and universities. This is the 37th year the list has been published.
College enrollment nationally took a hit last year, and Alabama’s public four-year colleges did, too. With the cost of college continuing to grow and student loan debt on the minds of many, making good decisions about which higher education avenue to pursue is more important than ever.
“Students and faculty continue to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, whether it’s through remote learning, mask-wearing or vaccine requirements,” said U.S. News editor Kim Castro. “As communities work through these challenges, U.S. News is committed to providing information on the academic quality of institutions across the country, so prospective students and their families can make informed decisions throughout their college search.”
Auburn University took the highest spot in Alabama, tying for 99th place among national universities. Nationwide, Princeton University topped that list again, followed by a three-way tie between Columbia University, Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Samford University tied for 136th, and both the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham tied with others for 148th place.
That ranking includes both public and private colleges. Factors considered in the rankings include academic quality and student outcomes including graduation rates and retention rates.
Among schools that receive public funding, Auburn University again took the highest ranking in Alabama in that category, at No. 42. The University of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham tied for No. 67.
The University of California—Los Angeles maintained its spot as the top public school among national universities, with the University of California - Berkeley and University of Michigan - Ann Arbor coming in at 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Among public regional universities in the south, the University of Montevallo ranked as the 12th best public school, with the University of North Alabama coming in at No. 13. Troy University also ranked in the top 20, coming in at no. 18.
Other Alabama schools that were ranked in the top public regional universities in the south include Troy University (18th) Alabama State University and Auburn University at Montgomery (both tied for 32nd), Jacksonville State University (38th), University of West Alabama (tied for 46th) and Alabama A&M University (ranked in the 52 to 62 range).
U.S. News ranks schools in many areas, based on four classifications: national universities, national liberal arts colleges, regional universities and regional colleges. Those rankings include best value schools, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, most innovative schools, economic diversity, ethnic diversity, A-plus schools for B students, and more.
Tuskegee University tied for 13th in the ranking of best undergraduate teaching programs among regional universities and the University of North Alabama was in a six-way tie for 21st place. Samford University ranked 37th among national universities.
Among HBCUs, Alabama had three top 30 schools in the national rankings. Tuskegee University tied for 4th, Alabama State University tied for 22nd, and Oakwood University tied for 30th. Spelman College in Atlanta took the top spot nationally.
Four Alabama universities and colleges made the A-plus schools for B students list: Samford University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham-Southern College, and the University of North Alabama.
To be included on that list, a school had to have a freshman retention rate of at least 75%, didn’t get most of their students from the top 10% of their high school class, and was ranked in the top three-fourths of the overall 2022 Best Colleges ranking in their classification.
Alabama had three Alabama schools make the list of best schools for military veterans among regional colleges and universities: University of Montevallo, University of North Alabama and University of Mobile
New this year, U.S. News ranked undergraduate nursing programs based on a survey of deans and senior faculty members of nursing schools and departments at institutions nationwide. UAB came in at No. 10, University of Alabama tied for 31st, and Auburn University tied for 58th.
Alabama had 11 schools on the top performers on social mobility list, an unranked list which evaluates which schools best serve underrepresented and low-income students. The list includes:
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- University of South Alabama
- Talladega College
- Stillman College
- Spring Hill College
- Tuskegee University
- Alabama A&M University
- University of Montevallo
- Oakwood University
- Huntingdon College
- University of Mobile
None of Alabama’s colleges made the ethnic diversity rankings, which considers how likely it is for a student to encounter undergraduates from racial and ethnic groups other than their own.
The University of Alabama and Auburn University tied at 49th for best undergraduate business program.
Here’s a link to see all U.S. News’ rankings nationwide.