Morehead State University has been recognized for the sixth consecutive year as one of the foremost public universities in the South in the 2010 edition of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report.
"We are very pleased to be recognized again this year as one of the outstanding regional public universities by this widely-popular college guide," said MSU President Wayne D. Andrews. “This year’s ranking shows we are making steady progress toward our goal of becoming the best of the best.”
The newest rankings include MSU as 20th in the Top Public University-Master’s/South division, up from 24th last year.
“Our faculty and staff are deeply committed to making Morehead State the best public regional university in the South, all for the benefit of our students and their families,” Dr. Andrews said.
The rankings place emphasis on acceptance rates, graduation rates, admissions selectivity, and small class sizes. Morehead State is consistently recognized for relatively small classes and a high percentage of full-time faculty members, two important factors of student success.
The rankings include public and private institutions which grant bachelor's and master's degrees in 12 states of the South, including Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Arkansas and Louisiana.
MSU first moved into the magazine’s top tier of ranked institutions in the 2005 edition of “America’s Best Colleges.” The rankings are based on research of more than 1,400 institutions nationally.
“Our students are accepted into professional schools, including medical, dental and pharmacy programs, at rates well above state and national averages, so we know they receive a first class education,” Dr. Andrews stated. “We are elated that others recognize Morehead State’s academic quality."
The rankings will be published in the magazine’s September issue on Aug. 24. The 2010 America’s Best Colleges guidebook will be available on Aug. 25.
MSU was founded in 1887 as a private college, became a public institution in 1922, and gained university status in 1966.