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University of Portland ranked 7th in the West by 2017 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings

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September 12, 2016

For the 22nd consecutive year, the University of Portland has received a top-ten ranking by U.S. News & World Report, which today released its 2017 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. The University is 7th out of 124 institutions listed in the “Regional Universities – West” classification. The full rankings can be seen on U.S. News & World Report’s website.

“These rankings uphold the University’s reputation as a place of excellence in teaching, research and service,” noted University president Rev. Mark L. Poorman C.S.C. “They reflect the success of our long-held commitment to intellectual curiosity; to moral development and wise mentoring; to a lively, creative relationship between faith and reason, and the rich heritage found in Catholic social teachings.”

Among notable measures in the U.S. News methodology was the University’s exceptional 90% first-year retention rate and an annual graduation rate of 78%.

In addition, the University’s Shiley School of Engineering rose 11 spots in the rankings to 35th nationwide among schools whose highest degree is a bachelor’s or master’s. The University also ranked 5th in the western region for “best colleges for veterans.”

About the methodology
Per U.S. News & World Report, regional institutions are those that provide a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s programs, but few, if any, doctoral programs. The 653 universities in this category are not ranked nationally but rather against peers in one of four regions – North, South, Midwest and West – because they tend to draw students most heavily from surrounding states.

U.S. News’ methodology for this category weighs heavily on student retention rates, peer assessment and faculty resources, as well as on student selectivity, financial resources earmarked for educational purposes and the alumni giving rate.

A history of excellence
The University of Portland’s commitment to its mission of teaching and learning, faith and formation, and service and leadership has been successfully proved through its graduates – according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, the University of Portland has been among the highest in the nation among peer institutions for the number of alumni earning Fulbright scholarships for several consecutive years.

For six consecutive years, the University has been the top Oregon school in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance annual ranking of best values in private universities. And for three consecutive years, Bloomberg Businessweek has named University of Portland the top school in Oregon for “return on investment” in a state-by-state ranking of schools providing graduates with the most return for the price of their education.