Best Regional Schools: Universities
Best Regional Schools
Universities
What Are the Regional Universities? Like the national universities, regional universities (as defined in 1994 by the Carnegie Foundation) provide a full range of undergraduate and master's level programs. But they offer few, if any, doctoral programs. The 505 regional universities are ranked within four geographic areas: North, South, Midwest, and West. For more information, visit www.usnews.com.
Regions at a glance
These are the four regions into which U.S. News places schools.
[Map not available.]
North: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts
South: Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky
Midwest: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota
West: Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma
[Numbers in parentheses either beside or below data indicate footnote numbers.]
A Rank
B School (State) (*Public university)
C Overall score
D Academic reputation score (5.0=highest)
E Average freshman retention rate
F Average graduation rate
G Pct. of classes under 20 ('99)
H Pct. of classes of 50 or more ('99)
I Student/faculty ratio ('99)
J Pct. of faculty who are full time ('99)
K SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile ('99)
L Freshmen in top 25 pct. of HS class ('99)
M Acceptance rate ('99)
N Avg. alumni giving rate
NORTH
A B
C D E F G H I J K L M N
1. Villanova University (PA)
100.0 4.1 93 84 43 2 13/1 83 1120-1310 75 57 21
2. Providence College (RI)
91.0 3.6 92 82 57 2 13/1 92 1080-1260 77 60 32
3. Fairfield University (CT)
89.0 3.4 88 82 39 .4 13/1 77 1070-1240 65 61 27
4. Rochester Inst. of Tech. (NY)
88.0 4.1 85 57 55 3 13/1 79 1080-1280 58 77 13
5. Loyola College (MD)
87.0 3.5 92 78 41 .1 13/1 77 1110-1300 68 66 33
6. College of New Jersey*
85.0 3.5 93 77 34 1 14/1 75 1140-1320 92 55 9
7. University of Scranton (PA)
84.0 3.2 90 81 44 1 14/1 84 1000-1220 62 76 34
8. Ithaca College (NY)
83.0 3.5 84 71 68 2 11/1 91 1050-1260 61 73 18
(9)
9. SUNY Col. Arts & Sci.-Geneseo*
81.0 3.6 91 78 43 7 19/1 89 1110-1280 92 52 21
(3)
10. St. Joseph's University (PA)
80.0 3.4 89 71 38 4 13/1 70 1119-1311 89 61 22
(3) (3)
11. Alfred University (NY)
79.0 3.2 82 67 67 3 12/1 93 1050-1220 55 81 25
11. Hood College (MD)
79.0 3.1 82 63 71 0 10/1 92 990-1220 71 77 30
11. Quinnipiac University (CT)
79.0 3.1 87 77 61 .5 15/1 84 1020-1215 55 68 38
11. Simmons College (MA)
79.0 3.2 82 66 69 3 10/1 70 1010-1130 55 72 29
15. St. Michael's College (VT)
78.0 3.2 85 76 50 .2 13/1 87 1020-1180 50 71 28
16. Manhattan College (NY)
73.0 3.1 86 71 48 .5 14/1 85 980-1160 47 73 21
(5) (3)
17. La Salle University (PA)
71.0 3.1 86 72 49 0 15/1 68 960-1190 47 80 21
18. Marist College (NY)
70.0 3.1 90 63 44 .1 14/1 59 1010-1210 53 56 28
19. Beaver College (PA)
69.0 2.8 82 65 69 1 12/1 56 930-1150 60 63 41
19. Emerson College (MA)
69.0 3.2 82 62 66 4 16/1 62 1080-1260 53 65 13
19. Nazareth Coll. of Rochester (NY)
69.0 2.7 83 68 65 .2 12/1 85 1070-1190 69 81 26
19. St. Bonaventure University (NY)
69.0 3.0 83 69 49 .4 17/1 86 16-22 40 91 34
(9) (3) (4)
23. Gallaudet University (DC)
67.0 3.5 63 28 N/A N/A 7/1 100 N/A N/A 74 7
(2) (8)
23. Mount St. Mary's College (MD)
67.0 3.0 78 66 43 .3 13/1 82 960-1150 36 84 31
25. Springfield College (MA)
66.0 2.9 82 68 66 1 12/1 85 890-1100 38 67 28
(3)
26. Canisius College (NY)
65.0 3.0 83 55 56 .2 16/1 73 980-1200 49 81 22
(3)
26. Elmira College (NY)
65.0 2.7 66 55 82 0 12/1 90 980-1210 54 72 50
(5)
26. Millersville U. of Pennsylvania*
65.0 2.9 82 66 32 3 17/1 89 960-1150 45 69 15
26. Rutgers-Camden (NJ)*
65.0 3.0 84 51 43 10 11/1 82 950-1160 62 62 10
26. Wagner College (NY)
65.0 2.7 83 71 66 0 15/1 73 1050-1200 51 70 22
31. St. Joseph College (CT)
64.0 2.6 83 58 72 1 10/1 96 763-1195 46 87 38
(9) (3)
32. Assumption College (MA)
63.0 2.7 82 71 49 0 14/1 73 970-1160 41 74 19
32. Col. of Notre Dame of Maryland
63.0 2.7 83 64 76 .3 15/1 96 920-1130 59 74 21
(3) (6)
32. Rider University (NJ)
63.0 2.9 78 55 49 2 13/1 76 930-1128 29 80 17
(2)
32. Rowan University (NJ)*
63.0 3.1 84 53 44 .4 16/1 77 1083 50 54 10
(4)
32. Shippensburg U. of Pennsylvania*
63.0 2.8 77 62 34 .1 19/1 95 960-1150 39 64 26
32. Univ. of Mass.-Dartmouth*
63.0 3.1 78 48 52 4 14/1 90 950-1150 37 65 20
(3)
32. Widener University (PA)
63.0 2.9 77 50 61 0 12/1 72 1007-1205 48 89 15
NOTE: KEY TO FOOTNOTES, PAGE 126; METHODOLOGY EXPLAINED ON PAGE 104. REPUTATIONAL SURVEY BY MARKET FACTS INC.
A Rank
B School (State) (*Public university)
C Overall score
D Academic reputation score (5.0=highest)
E Average freshman retention rate
F Average graduation rate
G Pct. of classes under 20 ('99)
H Pct. of classes of 50 or more ('99)
I Student/faculty ratio ('99)
J Pct. of faculty who are full time ('99)
K SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile ('99)
L Freshmen in top 25 pct. of HS class ('99)
M Acceptance rate ('99)
N Avg. alumni giving rate
SOUTH
A B
C D E F G H I J K L M N
1. University of Richmond (VA)
100.0 4.3 93 83 54 2 11/1 87 1220-1370 91 45 36
2. James Madison University (VA)*
78.0 4.0 90 81 35 12 18/1 89 1080-1260 81 65 20
2. Rollins College (FL)
78.0 3.7 80 62 64 .5 12/1 86 1080-1260 64 73 24
4. Stetson University (FL)
77.0 3.7 79 62 60 .2 10/1 87 1010-1230 65 80 27
5. Samford University (AL)
74.0 3.7 81 63 61 2 14/1 83 22-27 69 88 11
6. Mary Washington College (VA)*
72.0 3.7 83 73 39 2 17/1 87 1120-1290 85 56 30
7. The Citadel (SC)*
71.0 3.6 80 74 39 2 15/1 92 960-1150 36 79 35
7. Loyola University New Orleans
71.0 3.6 79 55 51 2 12/1 84 23-28 61 86 13
9. Mercer University (GA)
69.0 3.7 75 49 57 1 15/1 78 1000-1200 69 78 13
10. Appalachian State Univ. (NC)*
67.0 3.6 83 63 46 4 17/1 88 990-1180 52 66 15
11. Elon College (NC)
66.0 3.6 83 62 50 1 16/1 90 1020-1200 51 59 22
12. Centenary College of Louisiana
64.0 3.1 73 52 72 .3 12/1 87 21-27 62 83 27
12. Converse College (SC)
64.0 3.2 71 59 72 0 9/1 94 970-1150 71 77 26
(4)(4)
12. Wheeling Jesuit University (WV)
64.0 3.2 74 53 69 0 12/1 86 19-25 48 89 29
15. College of Charleston (SC)*
62.0 3.6 80 54 30 3 18/1 85 1050-1230 59 44 35
(3) (4)
15. Spring Hill College (AL)
62.0 3.2 80 55 52 .4 13/1 76 21-27 57 89 32
17. Meredith College (NC)
61.0 2.9 85 68 61 2 13/1 68 940-1140 60 85 28
18. Belmont University (TN)
60.0 3.2 76 49 65 .1 10/1 76 22-27 63 78 17
18. Xavier University of Louisiana
60.0 3.5 77 58 35 8 16/1 95 18-23 54 85 12
(3)
20. Harding University (AR)
59.0 3.1 76 57 49 5 19/1 86 20-26 59 82 29
(3)
20. Mississippi College
59.0 3.1 81 51 72 2 15/1 80 20-28 N/A 93 13
20. Murray State University (KY)*
59.0 3.0 73 45 59 4 16/1 98 20-26 69 70 26
20. U. of North Carolina-Charlotte*
59.0 3.6 77 51 42 13 16/1 86 930-1130 46 70 8
(3)
24. Hampton University (VA)
58.0 3.2 83 53 52 5 16/1 89 920-1090 68 64 11
25. Embry Riddle Aeronautical U. (FL)
57.0 3.4 74 48 31 4 22/1 91 990-1210 45 78 1
25. U. of North Carolina-Wilmington*
57.0 3.3 79 55 27 10 18/1 88 1000-1160 59 58 12
27. Bellarmine College (KY)
56.0 3.0 83 58 19 0 14/1 68 22-26 55 95 30
27. Christian Brothers University (TN)
56.0 3.1 78 50 48 0 13/1 82 25 55 77 14
(4)(4)
27. East Carolina University (NC)*
56.0 3.3 78 49 44 9 16/1 93 920-1100 38 80 19
27. Winthrop University (SC)*
56.0 3.3 76 54 40 5 14/1 84 940-1130 55 75 22
31. Queens College (NC)
55.0 3.1 72 47 74 0 12/1 75 910-1120 42 73 24
A Rank
B School (State) (*Public university)
C Overall score
D Academic reputation score (5.0=highest)
E Average freshman retention rate
F Average graduation rate
G Pct. of classes under 20 ('99)
H Pct. of classes of 50 or more ('99)
I Student/faculty ratio ('99)
J Pct. of faculty who are full time ('99)
K SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile ('99)
L Freshmen in top 25 pct. of HS class ('99)
M Acceptance rate ('99)
N Avg. alumni giving rate
MIDWEST
A B
C D E F G H I J K L M N
1. Creighton University (NE)
100.0 4.1 85 69 55 6 14/1 89 23-28 70 91 25
(3)
2. Valparaiso University (IN)
97.0 3.9 87 70 51 2 13/1 91 24-29 75 78 27
3. Drake University (IA)
95.0 4.0 82 65 61 6 13/1 86 22-28 62 90 21
4. Bradley University (IL)
94.0 3.8 83 66 59 3 14/1 85 23-28 63 81 31
4. John Carroll University (OH)
94.0 3.8 88 74 43 .1 13/1 79 21-26 58 88 34
4. University of Dayton (OH)
94.0 3.8 87 72 38 4 15/1 72 22-27 50 80 17
7. Xavier University (OH)
93.0 3.8 88 68 53 1 17/1 72 22-28 58 89 27
8. Butler University (IN)
90.0 3.7 83 62 56 2 14/1 80 1060-1270 69 86 25
9. University of St. Thomas (MN)
89.0 3.7 85 66 41 2 14/1 71 22-27 62 85 18
10. Calvin College (MI)
88.0 3.6 85 67 35 1 16/1 93 23-28 52 99 35
11. Truman State University (MO)
* 86.0 3.7 85 62 41 3 16/1 97 25-30 81 81 12
11. University of Evansville (IN)
86.0 3.4 82 60 59 2 13/1 98 22-28 68 91 25
13. Baldwin-Wallace College (OH)
82.0 3.4 84 66 58 1 13/1 81 21-26 64 81 18
14. North Central College (IL)
80.0 3.0 82 60 61 0 13/1 74 22-27 57 76 40
15. Drury University (MO)
79.0 3.1 81 58 48 1 12/1 87 22-28 57 91 33
(4)
15. Rockhurst University (MO)
79.0 3.3 83 64 49 1 9/1 82 20-26 45 90 22
15. University of Northern Iowa*
79.0 3.3 82 61 36 8 16/1 90 21-26 50 82 21
18. Capital University (OH)
77.0 3.0 75 64 58 1 14/1 65 20-25 50 81 28
18. College of St. Catherine (MN)
77.0 3.2 81 52 73 2 8/1 73 19-25 49 87 22
20. College of Mount St. Joseph (OH)
76.0 2.8 87 65 74 1 15/1 77 19-25 50 85 33
21. College of St. Scholastica (MN)
75.0 3.1 80 52 64 5 13/1 98 790-1060 62 93 24
22. Benedictine University (IL)
74.0 2.9 75 56 69 1 14/1 65 20-26 47 76 22
22. Dominican University (IL)
74.0 2.9 80 53 79 0 13/1 64 18-24 50 78 25
24. Univ. of Wisconsin-Eau Claire*
73.0 3.2 77 53 34 11 20/1 94 21-26 54 74 24
25. South Dakota State University*
71.0 3.1 75 54 42 14 15/1 99 19-28 35 91 23
(9)
25. Univ. of Wisconsin-La Crosse*
71.0 3.2 81 49 33 10 21/1 88 22-26 65 71 16
25. Webster University (MO)
71.0 2.8 78 46 84 0 15/1 27 21-27 58 62 9
28. Concordia Univ.-River Forest (IL)
70.0 2.9 77 60 68 0 18/1 67 19-26 28 72 19
28. St. Xavier University (IL)
70.0 3.0 75 53 60 1 16/1 73 18-22 37 76 15
28. Univ. of Wis.-Stevens Point*
70.0 3.1 74 53 29 13 20/1 94 20-25 47 60 12
31. Baker University (KS)
69.0 2.7 73 53 78 1 12/1 85 21-26 53 79 23
(9)
31. Carthage College (WI)
69.0 2.8 72 50 69 1 15/1 87 20-28 39 91 30
31. Rockford College (IL)
69.0 2.6 66 51 N/A N/A 10/1 100 18-27 74 76 32
(9) (3)
31. University of St. Francis (IL)
69.0 2.6 75 55 77 0 11/1 75 21-25 50 69 7
A Rank
B School (State) (*Public university)
C Overall score
D Academic reputation score (5.0=highest)
E Average freshman retention rate
F Average graduation rate
G Pct. of classes under 20 ('99)
H Pct. of classes of 50 or more ('99)
I Student/faculty ratio ('99)
J Pct. of faculty who are full time ('99)
K SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile ('99)
L Freshmen in top 25 pct. of HS class ('99)
M Acceptance rate ('99)
N Avg. alumni giving rate
WEST
A B
C D E F G H I J K L M N
1. Trinity University (TX)
100.0 4.3 86 76 54 2 11/1 92 1170-1370 82 76 22
(9) (3)
2. Santa Clara University (CA)
90.0 3.9 91 80 33 3 13/1 85 1090-1290 71 70 29
3. Loyola Marymount Univ. (CA)
83.0 3.7 86 73 56 1 13/1 71 1030-1230 59 62 14
4. Gonzaga University (WA)
80.0 3.7 88 62 54 1 12/1 97 1040-1260 63 87 23
5. Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo*
77.0 3.9 87 59 28 6 20/1 82 945-1363 73 42 14
6. Linfield College (OR)
76.0 3.3 81 65 64 1 13/1 93 970-1200 63 92 28
6. University of Portland (OR)
76.0 3.5 80 62 61 2 13/1 85 1040-1240 67 89 25
(6)
6. University of Redlands (CA)
76.0 3.3 79 58 74 1 14/1 51 1030-1220 69 80 26
9. Pacific Lutheran University (WA)
74.0 3.3 82 65 60 3 15/1 89 980-1210 71 84 19
9. St. Mary's College of California
74.0 3.3 83 67 49 .2 13/1 65 1010-1180 64 85 20
(3) (4)
9. Whitworth College (WA)
74.0 3.4 83 57 64 3 15/1 95 980-1210 78 87 25
12. St. Mary's Univ. of San Antonio
72.0 3.2 82 58 53 .4 13/1 85 980-1170 62 86 23
13. Seattle University
71.0 3.4 80 55 41 1 14/1 82 1020-1230 56 80 16
14. Mount St. Mary's College (CA)
68.0 3.1 84 61 60 1 15/1 62 940-1130 57 74 18
(3) (6)
15. Seattle Pacific University
67.0 3.1 78 53 48 4 16/1 85 1030-1250 79 93 21
(9) (4)(4)
16. Chapman University (CA)
66.0 3.0 82 45 51 1 12/1 71 1030-1252 61 60 22
16. Pacific University (OR)
66.0 2.9 77 53 65 1 10/1 82 1030-1210 71 86 26
18. Western Washington University*
65.0 3.2 81 63 53 10 20/1 89 980-1190 59 83 10
19. Abilene Christian University (TX)
63.0 3.1 73 51 52 7 18/1 86 960-1220 48 79 22
19. Westminster College (UT)
63.0 2.8 69 50 75 0 17/1 73 23-26 65 86 20
21. California Lutheran University
62.0 2.9 80 53 56 1 18/1 69 950-1190 58 77 19
22. Marylhurst University (OR)
61.0 2.6 68 44 95 0 7/1 32 24 77 87 28
(9) (9) (5) (11) (3)
22. Regis University (CO)
61.0 2.8 83 47 89 .1 16/1 46 21-26 49 84 15
22. University of St. Thomas (TX)
61.0 2.8 77 48 50 .3 14/1 70 1030-1250 73 81 17
25. Oklahoma City University
60.0 2.7 78 47 69 1 14/1 75 20-26 54 63 14
26. Calif. State Poly. Univ.-Pomona*
59.0 3.5 79 42 35 7 19/1 81 870-1130 N/A 71 N/A
26. College of Notre Dame (CA)
59.0 2.9 72 55 65 0 15/1 61 890-1050 38 85 19
(6)
26. Montana Tech of the U. of Mont.*
59.0 2.9 70 43 63 8 16/1 91 19-25 48 95 23
(3)
FOOTNOTES:
1. School refused to fill out U.S. News survey.
2. SAT I and/or ACT not required for some or all applicants by school.
3. Data not submitted in the form requested by U.S. News.
4. Data reported to U.S. News in previous years.
5. College data are provided by Wintergreen/Orchard House, an imprint of Riverside Publishing. Copyright @ 2000 by the Riverside Publishing Co. Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved.
6. Data based on fewer than 51 percent of enrolled freshmen.
7. Data reported to the NCAA.
8. Data reported to the Council for Aid to Education.
9. Average graduation or freshman retention rates for the previous four years when school didn't report to U.S. News rates for the most recent year or years.
10. Graduation rate reported to Wintergreen/Orchard House Inc.
11. SAT I and/or ACT not required for some or all applicants by school, and data not submitted in form requested by U.S. News. N/A means not available.
This story appears in the September 11, 2000 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.