The UA was recently named one of the nation’s best higher education organizations and ranked No. 58 nationally among public universities.
U.S. News & World Report released the 2015 version of its annual rankings of universities on Sept. 9. The rankings are based on many different aspects; graduation and retention rates, evaluation by colleagues and analysts, class sizes, financial resources for students, alumni giving and graduation rate performance, which is the difference between actual and predicted graduation rates, are all taken into consideration.
According to the report, the College of Engineering’s undergraduate program was ranked No. 51 out of universities that offer doctoral degrees in engineering. Engineering education and research at the UA date back to when the university was first established in 1885. Currently, the college has more than 100 projects with annual spending of $27 million.
Jon Schertzer, a chemical engineering sophomore, has participated in research through the College of Engineering and holds a leadership position in the Engineering Student Council.
“[It] is the best way to keep sane,” Schertzer said. “Doing research provides the opportunity to make important faculty connections that can only serve to benefit students in their future academic careers, while at the same time exposing students to interesting scientific phenomena and giving them valuable research experience.”
The Eller College of Management was ranked No. 21, one place higher than last year, and Eller College’s management information systems program was ranked No. 5 among similar programs. Anji Siegel, director of special programs, highlighted the research taught in classes and the longevity of experience the UA’s faculty has in the field. Not only is Eller College one of the only business schools with MIS research, Siegel said, but the first curriculum was developed at the UA over 40 years ago.
“The University of Arizona is proud to offer excellent degree programs at all levels of student education,” UA President Ann Weaver Hart said in a statement to UANews. “UA students are among some of the world’s best prepared graduates entering the workforce.”
—Follow Kacie Claudel @kmclaudel