U.S. News, America's Best Colleges 2005

UA in the U.S. News & World Report Rankings

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama is the highest-ranked national public university in the state of Alabama, according to U.S. News and World Report’s annual rankings for 2005.

UA is ranked 39th among public universities nationally, making U.S. News’ “Top 50 Public National Universities” list for the fourth consecutive year. The ranking is the highest ever for UA, which ranked 48th last year. UA is ranked 86th among all national universities, up from 99th last year. Some 248 universities were listed in the national rankings, including 162 public institutions.

“We are very pleased with this recognition of our academic programs,” said UA President Robert E. Witt. “Our ranking reflects increased national recognition of the quality of The University of Alabama’s academic programs, and it speaks well of our efforts to establish our Honors College, recruit ‘the best and brightest’ and improve student services. In addition, our strong alumni support demonstrates that our graduates believe in their alma mater. It is clear that The University of Alabama is taking its place among the country’s leading universities.”

U.S. News noted that 43 percent of UA’s classes had fewer than 20 students as one of the criteria used in compiling the rankings. It also cited UA’s 83 percent freshman retention rate.

In addition to the University-wide rankings, UA’s Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration is ranked 57th nationally among undergraduate business programs, both public and private. The College of Engineering is ranked 92nd among undergraduate engineering programs.

Last spring in U.S. News’ rankings of graduate schools, UA’s School of Law was ranked 40th. The Law School has been ranked among the top 50 law schools for six years.