U.S. News and World Report issued its annual "best colleges" rankings today and the University of Nevada, Reno is again in the top tier of "best national universities," ranked number 181. The rankings now include a separate listing of the "top public schools" and the University is ranked at number 100.  

This year, U.S. News surveyed more than 1,600 universities and colleges. Of those, 252 are numerically ranked in the top tier of "best national universities" for 2012. Schools in the "best national universities" category offer a full range of undergraduate majors, masters and doctoral degrees and are committed to a productive research program. The University's placement at number 181 is up from its ranking at 191 last year.

Two University of Nevada, Reno colleges were also ranked:

• The College of Engineering is ranked at number 156 in the category of "best undergraduate engineering programs." To be ranked, the highest degree awarded through the college must be a doctoral degree and the college must have at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Seven College of Engineering programs are ABET accredited and the college is also ranked among U.S. News' "best graduate schools," announced in the spring.
• The College of Business is ranked at number 261 in the category of "best undergraduate business programs." To be ranked, the college or program must be accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

"The University of Nevada, Reno is a competitive research university and, yes, we provide a top-tier educational experience," said University President Marc Johnson. "This ranking is a statement about the students we attract, the quality of our faculty and the graduates we produce."

Graduation rates are a significant aspect of the U.S. News methodology, and continued gains in graduation and retention rates contributed to the University's improved ranking. An additional, key component of the U.S. News methodology is a reputation survey completed by university presidents, provosts and admissions officers and, as of last year, by high school counselors selected from U.S. News' top-ranked high schools.

The categories this year also include "most debt/least debt" rankings, and the University of Nevada, Reno made the "least debt" list at number 16, up from number 22 in 2011.

Last spring the University achieved its strongest showing ever in the annual rankings of the best graduate programs by U.S. News with two schools and 16 program areas ranked among the nation's best. The College of Engineering and the University of Nevada School of Medicine, primary care category, are ranked among the "best graduate schools." The University's ranking in 16 graduate program categories includes five top-100 rankings: biological sciences, chemistry, clinical psychology (top 100), civil engineering (top 100), earth sciences (top 100), environmental engineering (top 100), English, fine arts, history, mechanical engineering, nursing, part-time MBA, physics, psychology, social work and speech pathology (top 100).