St. Cloud State’s standing as one of America’s great universities is affirmed — again.
Forbes ranked St. Cloud State 562nd in its annual analysis of “America’s Top Colleges.” An American business website and bi-weekly, Forbes has published since 1917.
The U.S. has 2,968 four-year colleges, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, an agency of the U.S. Department of Education. That means St. Cloud State is . . .
- Among the elite 19 percent of the nation’s colleges and universities, based on student satisfaction, post-graduate success, student debt, graduation rate and academic success
- Among the top 3 percent most affordable of America’s Top Colleges
St. Cloud State is one of just four Minnesota public schools to be ranked: University of Minnesota (130th), University of Minnesota, Morris (387th), St. Cloud State (562nd) and Minnesota State University, Mankato (613th).
Rankings of note include National Collegiate Hockey Conference rival Western Michigan University (590th) and former Northern Central Conference rival University of Northern Colorado (616th).
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“We’re not all that interested in what gets a student into college, like our peers who focus heavily on selectivity metrics such as high school class rank, SAT scores and the like,” said Forbes staff member Caroline Howard, who edited America’s Top Colleges. “Our sights are set directly on ROI: What are students getting out of college?”
Forbes’ methodology was developed in cooperation with Washington D.C.-based Center for College Affordability and Productivity. This is the eighth year Forbes has ranked colleges and universities. Four schools, including three service academies, did not release tuition information.
St. Cloud State’s recent Forbes rankings include 504th in 2013 and 566th in 2014. St. Cloud State’s higher ranking in 2013 is attributed to that year’s methodology, which factored in competitive awards. St. Cloud State earned five nationally competitive awards in 2012 and 2013, including the Simon Award, Heiskell Award, HEED Award, Hobey Baker Award and Innovative Program of the Year Award. Get award details at the Distinctions website.
Absent from the 2015 rankings are five universities in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and three University of Minnesota system schools.
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