The University of Chicago has once again been named among the nation’s top universities in the latest US News & World report of "Best Colleges" released Tuesday.
The university was ranked at no. 4, an increase from last year’s no. 5 ranking, and was the only local university in the top 10, which was led by Princeton, Harvard and Yale universities.
The much-watched list ranks colleges based on selectivity, retention and graduation rates.
University of Chicago was tied at fourth with Columbia University in New York and Stanford University.
Northwestern University made the list at no. 13, a drop from last year when the university was ranked at no. 12.
The University of Notre Dame climbed the rankings with a no. 16 slot, up two spots from last year’s no. 18 and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign came in at no. 42, down one spot compared to last year’s no. 41 ranking.
The University of Illinois at Chicago saw the most dramatic drop out of regional colleges, dipping down 21 points to no. 149 from last year’s no. 128. UIC tied six other university for the no. 149 slot.
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Robert Morse, the chief data strategist for the report, told the Chicago Sun-Times the drop was attributed to weakened admissions data and selectivity.
Illinois State University at Normal was the most-improved regional school, climbing 10 places to no. 142 compared to last year’s no. 152.
University of Chicago, Northwestern, University of Notre Dame and the Illinois Institute of Technology were all also listed in the “Best Value Schools” category.
