U.S. News & World Report again has ranked Oklahoma City university among the best colleges in the country. The list, released Tuesday, has OCU ranked in the Best Regional Universities in the West category, the highest rank of Oklahoma universities in this category.
The regional category is made up of universities that offer a full range of undergraduate programs and master’s programs.
Oklahoma City University Interim Provost Kent Buchanan said OCU’s standing reflects the university’s commitment to providing high quality education and academic rigor.
“Our professors foster environments that excite students’ curiosities and promote their willingness to learn. We are focused on student success, from giving students personalized educational opportunities to connecting them with leading employers,” Buchanan said.
Along with the regional overall list, OCU is also one of only two schools in the state on the West regional universities A+ Schools for B Students list; ranked number 13 for Best Regional University for Veterans in the West, up by seven places from last year and the highest in the state for the region; and is on the Most International Students list.
Schools on the A+ Schools for B Students list are noted for accepting outstanding applicants whose scores are not “A.” The colleges and universities included in the list see great potential in these students and help them achieve their goals.
According to the report release Tuesday, the U.S. News ranking system “rests on two pillars. The formula uses quantitative and qualitative measures that education experts have proposed as reliable indicators of academic quality, and it is based on our researched view of what matters in education.”
U.S. News & World Report bases its rankings on various factors including graduation and retention rates, peer assessments, faculty resources, student selections, financial resources and alumni giving.
Regional universities are placed into one of four geographic categories. The West region includes Oklahoma, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
