Pitt State named a top regional university

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Pittsburg State University is one of the top public regional universities in the United States, according to the U.S. News and World Report's Best Colleges 2011. The annual report was released last week.

In the 12-state Midwest area, which includes the states of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, PSU was ranked 22nd among regional public universities, according to the report.

Kansas Board of Regents Chairman Gary Sherrer said recognition such as that from U.S. News is a reflection of the importance Kansas places on higher education.

"National rankings like this one for Pittsburg State are indicators of the high academic quality and student success that are the dividends for investment in our higher education system," Sherrer said.

Dr. Bill Ivy, PSU's dean of enrollment management and student success, said rankings such as those published by U.S. News recognize not only the university's ongoing hard work to provide high quality programs, but also PSU's efforts to keep education affordable and its strong focus on student success.

"We offer students many nationally recognized academic options," Ivy said. "Just as important, however, is the campuswide commitment to helping students succeed and earn a degree."

On its website, U.S. News says it compiles the annual rankings to help students and parents make higher education choices. In its rankings, U.S. News says it considers things like academic programs, graduation and retention rates, admissions standards, peer rankings, and the size of university endowments.

"We're obviously pleased to be recognized by U.S. News," Ivy said. "We're even more pleased that a growing number of students throughout the region are making Pittsburg State their first choice and that students who do choose Pittsburg State remain very happy with that choice."