WMU named among U.S. News' 'best national universities' for 25th year

Contact: Cheryl Roland
Photo of Western Michigan University's West Campus.

Western Michigan University's West Campus

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—For the 25th consecutive year, Western Michigan University appears on U.S. News & World Report's list of "best national universities," continuing its presence among schools the magazine calls the top tier of colleges and universities in the United States.

The 2016 ranking of nearly 1,800 four-year colleges and universities was released by U.S. News Sept. 9 and is available online at usnews.com. A print edition will appear at newsstands late this month.

About the rankings

WMU is listed in the top tier among 280 national institutions—173 public, 100 private and seven in the for-profit arena. The University is among seven schools tied in the ranking at No. 187. Other Michigan public universities also in the ranking's top tier are the University of Michigan, and Michigan State, Michigan Technological and Central Michigan universities.

WMU first appeared on the magazine's list of "best national universities" in 1991. In 2011, U.S. News revamped its list to numerically rank those institutions like WMU that are in the top tier of schools. The colleges and universities in the best national universities second tier are listed alphabetically. The rankings are based on 16 criteria that include academic reputation, retention and graduation rates, student-faculty ratios, class size, faculty resources, student test scores and alumni giving.

In August, the policy magazine Washington Monthly ranked WMU No. 90 on its list of top national universities and No. 54 in its "best bang for the buck" category. Washington Monthly bases its rankings on what schools are doing for their students and the country, with criteria that include producing cutting-edge research and new Ph.Ds., encouraging students to give back to the nation through service, and promoting social mobility by recruiting and graduating low-income students.

Also in August, WMU was named a 2016 "Best in the Midwest" school by Princeton Review.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.