EIU Moves Higher in U.S. News & World Report's Annual College Guide
Aug-19-2005
For the sixth consecutive year, Eastern Illinois University has been named one of the top Midwestern public universities in its class by U.S. News & World Report.
EIU is ranked eighth among all Midwestern public universities offering a full range of undergraduate degrees and some master’s degree programs. EIU is the only Illinois public university in the top 15.
In addition, in a comprehensive list of all 142 Midwest institutions, both public and private, EIU’s overall rank rose to 37th. It is the eighth consecutive year EIU has been in the Midwest’s overall top 40.
The findings are part of the magazine’s annual guide to “America’s Best Colleges.” The information is to appear online at www.usnews.com on Friday, and the issue is scheduled to hit newsstands Aug. 29.
“I can think of no better way to start the school year than by celebrating our university’s strong academic reputation,” said EIU President Lou Hencken. “While all of us here at EIU are already aware of the superior quality of our university, it is always satisfying to find that others recognize our efforts.
“We are particularly thrilled to move up in the rankings even as we continue to face financial constraints. This is a testament to the high caliber of our faculty and staff, who have continued to do all they can to provide a top-quality education for our students.”
The Midwest region encompasses Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Rankings are based on schools’ academic reputations, student selectivity, faculty resources, graduation and retention rates, financial resources and alumni giving.
Among EIU’s highlights is the personal attention students receive, as 35 percent of classes have fewer than 20 students, and only 4 percent of classes have 50 or more students.
The student-to-faculty ratio is 15:1, and 95 percent of those faculty members are full-time.
“It is exciting that, although our statistics are certainly impressive, they tell only part of our story,” Hencken said. “The real strength of this university is in our people, whose commitment to excellence is what makes us shine.”
