Area schools place in annual U.S. News rankings

U.S. News & World Report published its annual college rankings Aug. 27.

Drury University scored high marks, tying for No. 10 on the list of Best Midwest Regional Universities – one spot lower than the school placed on the 2007 list. Drury also placed ninth on the list of Great Schools, Great Prices, in the Midwest; the school was No. 3 on that list last year.

Also appearing in U.S News’ annual college report was College of the Ozarks at No. 11 in the

Midwest, up from No. 29 last year. C of O also took the top slots on the Great Schools, Great Prices and Lowest Acceptance Rate rankings.

Missouri State University was No. 52 on the Best Midwest regional Universities list, up from No. 59 last year. Webster University, which has a Springfield campus, was No. 26 on that list.

Both Evangel University and Southwest Baptist University are profiled, but not ranked, in the weekly newsmagazine.

The report ranked schools based on academic quality, peer assessment, retention, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, graduation rate performance and alumni giving rate.

Princeton Review

Another annual college-evaluation report includes familiar schools this year.

The Princeton Review’s 2008 list of Best Colleges: Region by Region gave MSU a Best in the Midwest designation based on academics and student surveys. MSU also was on the Princeton Review’s Best Value Colleges and Colleges with a Conscience lists.

C of O also was included in the Princeton Review’s college listings. The Point Lookout school was profiled on the Best in the Midwest and Best Value College lists.