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BU Ranks High Again in 'America's Best Colleges'
8/22/2008
For the 12th consecutive year, Binghamton University is ranked among the nation's top universities, according to the 2009 edition of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report.
The magazine, which hits the newsstands Monday, ranks BU 34th among public universities and colleges, up from 37th last year, and 77th among all public and private universities. Last year, Binghamton ranked 82nd overall.
"It says a lot about our university," said 20-year-old junior Kate Gromatsky of Long Island. "You really can't get a better value for the price."
"U.S News & World Report" collected data from more than 1,400 colleges for the 2009 rankings. BU's placement in the top 50 means it is on the "premier list" of flagship public universities, magazine officials said.
The magazine's rankings have their critics, however, who question the methodology. The presidents of three elite institutions -- Williams, Amherst and Swarthmore -- said they wouldn't provide the magazine with information not publicly available and wouldn't use the ranking to promote their schools. They were joined by the presidents of 16 other schools.
However, BU President Lois B. DeFleur held a press conference Friday to recognize Binghamton's place on the "U.S. News & World Report" list.
"I think it's a tremendous achievement, particularly considering we're a very young institution," DeFleur said.
BU's students have top academic credentials, good academic programs to study and a good track record getting into graduate school, she said.
The annual back-to-school guide aims to offer guidance to high school seniors, and their families, who face what could amount to a $200,000 investment, a release from the magazine said. The 15 criteria for the rankings include student test scores, selectivity, retention and student-to-faculty ratios. Cost is not considered.
The university's Web site lists an annual cost of $17,960 for an in-state undergraduate, and $24,420 for an out-of-state undergraduate. The cost includes tuition, room and board, travel, fees and books and supplies.
BU's ranking is deserved, several students said.
"It's a state school where you can get the same education as a private school. That's definitely a draw," said Laura Matthews, 17, an entering freshman from Syracuse.
The faculty is first rate, said Jesse Elwell, 20, of Andes, a junior and computer science major.
"I love it here," he said.
BU's public university ranking has been consistent. It ranked 38th two years ago, 30th the year before that, and 35th in the 2004 rankings.
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