PRESS RELEASE
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS
SEPTEMBER 10, 2013
CONTACT: Jeff Pitchford, vice president for university and government relations, at jeffp@uca.edu or (501) 450-3185.
Fredricka Sharkey, associate director for media relations, at fsharkey@uca.edu or (501) 450-5114.
UCA Among “Top Public Schools” in the South
CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas continues to rank among the top 30 best public institutions in the South, according to the 2014 Best Colleges rankings by U.S. News & World Report released Tuesday.
UCA ranks 28 in the category of “Top Public Schools” among regional universities in the South. A regional university is defined as an institution that provides a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s programs, according to the U.S. News & World Report. Universities in the “Best Regional Universities” category were ranked against their peer groups in one of four geographic regions. Generally, these universities draw students most heavily from surrounding states, according to U.S. News & World Report.
“A continuation of UCA ranking in the category of Top Public Schools in the South is very important. This shows the university has an excellent reputation and strong academic programs,” said UCA President Tom Courtway.
Overall, UCA ranks 66 of 92 public and private institutions ranked in the category of “Best Regional Universities” in the South. A private school, Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee, also ranked 66.
The U.S. News & World Report 2014 Best Colleges guidebook includes rankings of 1,800 institutions nationwide. The rankings are based on peer assessment; retention and graduation rates; faculty resources; student selectivity; financial resources; and alumni giving.
“I am very pleased that UCA continues to be ranked in the top 30 public universities in our region. We are embarking on an aggressive plan to continue to improve in all aspects of our operations, and we expect that our institution will continue to rise in these rankings over time. UCA offers excellent educational opportunities for our students, and we are pleased to be recognized in this prestigious publication,” said Steven Runge, provost and vice president for academic affairs.