Office of University Relations

UCCS named a top western university again

Date: 2005-08-22

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO – The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs is one of the top public universities in the Western United States, according to the editors of U.S. News and World Report.

In the 2006 college rankings edition, “America’s Best Colleges,” released Aug 22, the magazine’s editors ranked UCCS eighth among top public western universities offering mostly master’s and bachelor’s degrees.

In the 2006 edition, UCCS was ranked in the top tier of all public and private master’s universities in the West. Masters universities provide a full range of undergraduate and master’s degree programs.

In ranking more than 1,400 colleges and universities, U.S. News relies on quantitative measures and a “non partisan view of what matters in education.” Among the quantitative measures are freshman student retention rates, student graduation rates and class sizes.

“I am pleased to be recognized as a “Best in the West” university,” Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak said. “The State of Colorado faces challenges in funding public higher education, these rankings recognize the commitment of faculty, staff and students to achieving personal and institutional goals. They help our citizens know we are a good value in every respect.”

Other universities cited as top public universities in the West were: California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo; Western Washington University; California State University, Long Beach; California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; California State University, Chico; California State University, Fullerton; Sonoma (Calif.) State University and Humboldt (Calif.) State University.

The rankings are available on-line at www.usnews.com.

UCCS, located on Austin Bluffs Parkway in northeast Colorado Springs, is the fastest growing university in Colorado and one of the fastest growing universities in the nation. The university offers 25 bachelor’s degrees, 17 master’s and two doctoral degrees. The campus enrolls about 7,800 students annually.