News 2017: UMass Dartmouth moves up in U.S. News Tier 1 national rankings

After achieving Tier 1 status for the first time last year, the only Massachusetts Tier 1 research university south of Boston moves from 220 to 207 among 311 national universities. There are more than 3,000 degree-granting four-year institutions in the United States.

After achieving Tier 1 status for the first time last year, the only Massachusetts Tier 1 research university south of Boston moves from 220 to 207 among 311 national universities. There are more than 3,000 degree-granting four-year institutions in the United States.

UMass Dartmouth, which achieved national research university status for the first time last year, ascended 13 spots in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings made public today, strengthening its Tier 1 status.

The only Massachusetts research university south of Boston, UMass Dartmouth moved from 220 to 207 out of 311 national universities that were ranked. There are more than 3,000 degree-granting four-year institutions in the United States. The U.S. News National University designation is reserved for universities offering undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs, and are committed to producing groundbreaking research.

“This ranking reflects the excellence of our academic programs, the dedication of our faculty to teaching and discovery, and the transformative economic impact that our university has on the region and Commonwealth,” Chancellor Robert E. Johnson said.  “We are especially pleased that those who know us best, our peers and high school guidance counselors, gave us strong grades.”

U.S. News considers 15 factors in its rankings methodology, including graduation and retention rates, assessment of excellence by peers and guidance counselors, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, graduation rates, alumni giving, and others.

The Charlton College of Business was ranked 151 for undergraduate business programs, tying it with the University of Rhode Island, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the University of Vermont, University of New Hampshire, Quinnipiac University, Providence College and UMass Boston.

All of the UMass System campuses with undergraduate programs have earned Tier 1 status while the UMass Medical School has been ranked as the No. 1 medical school in New England for primary care education, and No. 14 nationally.

“This ranking reflects the excellence of our academic programs, the dedication of our faculty to teaching and discovery, and the transformative economic impact that our university has on the region and Commonwealth.”