Clemson, USC Score High on Magazine's Best Colleges Report

Clemson University is the 22nd best national public university in the country, according to the annual ranking by U.S.News & World Report. In a new category Clemson also received recognition as a school to watch.

Clemson is No. 2 among national public universities in the "up and coming" category as "a college that has recently made striking improvements or innovations - a school everyone should be watching," according to the magazine.

"It is truly great news for Clemson that we are now ranked No. 22 among national public universities and second on a new list of 'up and coming' institutions," said Clemson President James F. Barker. "What this means to our students and alumni is that their Clemson degree is more valuable now than ever. For faculty and staff it means we will continue to recruit great students and be even more competitive for grants and so forth.

"What it means to all of us is that Clemson can work together to achieve anything," Barker added. "We set our sights very high, and we are close to making our vision a reality. For that I have to thank all parts of the Clemson family."

The No. 22 ranking is the university's highest ranking to date. Last year, Clemson was No. 27 among the 164 public, doctoral-granting institutions in the country. The climb in the rank is attributed to improvement in a number of areas at Clemson: the graduation rate has gone up from 75 percent to 78 percent; the freshman retention rate is up from 88 percent to 90 percent; and alumni giving increased from 27 percent to 28 percent. The university has more classes with fewer than 20 students and more freshmen - 52 percent - in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating classes.

USC ranked in Top 10 ‘Most Promising and Innovative Schools' in the nation

The University of South Carolina is among the Top 10 "Most Promising and Innovative Schools" in the nation, according to U.S.News & World Report's 2009 "America's Best Colleges" guide.

The new ranking is just one bit of good news regarding national recognition for South Carolina students as they begin classes this week.

The Moore School of Business' undergraduate program in international business is ranked No. 1 in the country for the 12th consecutive year, and the university's pioneering University 101 program, including its programs for first-year students, is featured again among the best in nation for first-year experience programs in the guide's "Programs to Look For" section. The University is home to the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience.

A first for the guide, the "Up-and-Coming Schools" ranking is based on nominations from top educators around the country who were asked to list which universities and colleges are making the most "promising, innovative changes" in academics, faculty, students, facilities or the campus. South Carolina is No. 9, ranking ahead of Ohio State University and University of California-San Diego, among others.

In a ranking of the nation's Best Business Programs, the Moore School ranked No. 24 among public universities.

In the magazine's ranking of "Best National Universities," the University of South Carolina moved up to 52nd from 54th among public institutions.

The University of South Carolina Aiken ranked No. 1, and the University of South Carolina Upstate ranked No. 5 in the South among public baccalaureate colleges. This category recognizes regional institutions that focus on undergraduate education and offer a range of degree programs in liberal arts and in professional fields such as business, nursing and education.

Anderson University advances within top tier, named "up and coming school"

Anderson University was notified Thursday that not only had it moved up within the Top Tier of U. S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges within its category, but it was also cited by experts as an Up and Coming School, one that "schools everywhere should be watching."

This spring, for the first time, U.S. News asked the experts who respond to its annual peer assessment survey to identify schools that fit this profile. The 70 that received the most nominations included Anderson and other institutions like Belmont, James Madison, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and Wofford.

Anderson remains squarely anchored within the Top Tier of Southern Baccalaureate Colleges with a one-spot improvement this year to rank 33rd among all baccalaureate institutions in the South.

Mars Hill College again listed favorably in U.S. News rankings

For the fifth year in a row, Mars Hill College has ranked among the best colleges in the South in rankings compiled by U.S.News & World Report magazine. Mars Hill ranked 35th among Baccalaureate Colleges in the 2009 "America's Best Colleges" rankings which were released Friday.

Dr. Dan Lunsford, President of Mars Hill College said: "The U.S.News & World Report ranking is certainly an important tool for parents and students, and we are pleased to have ranked so well for the past five years. I congratulate the faculty and staff whose work has led us to compare favorably in the criteria used to determine these rankings." he said.

Since its first inclusion in the list, Mars Hill has consistently ranked in the report's top tier of colleges in the South. The college placed 32nd among baccalaureate colleges in 2008. In 2006 and 2007, the college was listed 38th in the "comprehensive colleges" category, and it ranked 45th in that category in 2005.

Read more about America's best colleges 2009, from U.S. News & World Report by clicking here