Tennessee Tech University is once again listed by U.S.News & World Report as one of the top public universities in the South and among the South's top 40 Best Universities overall in the Master's category, which includes both public and private schools.

The rankings, released last week in the 2005 edition of America's Best Colleges from U.S.News & World Report, mark the fifth time Tennessee Tech has earned top rankings in the publication. Most recently, TTU was ranked among the South's top public universities in the 2002 and 2003 reports and in the top tier of the South's Best Universities-Master's category, in 2002.

"Once again, Tennessee Tech is recognized for its excellence in many categories," says President Bob Bell. "Our success reflects an enduring dedication and commitment to excellence by our faculty, staff, students and alumni."

U.S. News categorizes schools according to the number and types of degrees granted: Best National Universities (doctoral level), Best Universities-Master's, Best Liberal Arts Colleges (bachelor's), and Best Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelor's. TTU is included in the Best Universities-Master's category because it offers a full range of undergraduate and master's degrees, but only three Ph.D.-level programs. Schools in the master's category are ranked within their geographic region. More than 130 schools are listed in the South's master's ranking.

We tied for the 11th-place ranking among top public universities in the South and tied for 37th place among the best universities overall. The only other public Tennessee schools to be ranked in similar categories were UT-Chattanooga and UT-Martin, both of which ranked below us. UT-Knoxville ranked 90th among the Best National Universities.

Schools are evaluated for the rankings based on peer assessment, or the opinions of those in a position to judge a school's academic excellence; student retention based on the proportion of freshmen who return to campus the following year and eventually graduate; faculty resources; student selectivity; graduation rate; and alumni giving percentage.

Earlier this week, Tennessee Tech was one of 136 colleges named "Best in the Southeast" by The Princeton Review (go to story).