UB rises to 31 among public universities in U.S. News rankings

For the third successive year, UB has achieved an all-time high ranking among the nation’s best public and national universities, according to U.S. News and World Report.   

UB is rated among the “top 50” public universities in the nation for the sixth straight year, coming in at No. 31, up seven places from last year.

UB also achieved its highest rating ever among the best national universities in the country — public and private — at No. 79, up 10 places from last year. Over the past 12 years, UB has risen 42 spots in the rankings.

The latest rankings were released today in the magazine’s 2020 Best Colleges issue.

U.S. News based its rankings on an assessment of more than 1,900 of the country’s four-year colleges and universities, in addition to data reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

“Our exceptional rise in the rankings of the best public and national universities reflects the profound impact that UB is having — through our scholarship, our research and our creative activity — on the region, the nation and the world,” said President Satish K. Tripathi. “While these rankings speak volumes about the robust culture of academic excellence that we foster, they also underscore our unwavering commitment to the greater good.”

UB is among a number of public universities that are members of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU) included in the ranking. Other AAU public universities ranked by U.S. News for 2020 include University of California, Berkeley; University of Michigan; The Ohio State University; Indiana University Bloomington; Michigan State; Penn State; University of Wisconsin-Madison; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Purdue; and Rutgers.

UB’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences is again top-rated by U.S. News. The school’s undergraduate engineering program moved up one spot to No. 66 overall among colleges and universities nationwide whose highest degree is a doctorate.

“Our school is once again recognized as one of the best in the nation, thanks to our commitment to academic excellence and our inclusive learning environment for undergraduate students,” said Rajan Batta, interim dean, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. “We continually strive to deliver a world-class education that supports student-led, hands-on learning activities, interdisciplinary collaboration and creative thinking.”

UB is rated No. 66 among national universities that are Top Performers on Social Mobility, a new ranking for 2020 that measures how well schools graduated students who received federal Pell Grants. While often awarded to students coming from households with annual family incomes of less than $50,000, most Pell Grant recipients are from households with a total income below $20,000.

The School of Management is again top-rated at No. 79 out of more than 850 accredited business schools, up eight spots among undergraduate business programs at both public and private universities nationwide.

“Our growing portfolio of global and entrepreneurial experiences, our Undergraduate Honors program and our BS in information technology and management are among several new initiatives that enhance the quality of our student experience and our global reputation,” said Paul Tesluk, dean of the School of Management. “It’s good to see these efforts reflected in the rankings.”

At 15%, UB remains high on the list of national universities with a proportion of international students.

A campus ethnic diversity index of .58 also places UB high on the list of national universities supporting strong commitments to enhance institutional transformation, diversity and inclusion across their campus.

UB is, additionally, highly ranked among the Best Colleges for Veterans, at No. 48, advancing five places from 2019. UB also continued to outperform the graduation rate predicted by U.S. News by 10% and improved the university’s alumni giving rate.

Additionally, U.S. News rates UB as an A+ school for B students, recognizing it as a university where students with good grades and a strong aptitude for learning thrive. UB joins fellow AAU members Iowa State University, Michigan State University, Rutgers University, University of Arizona, University of Iowa, University of Kansas, University of Missouri and University of Oregon in this ranking.