FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas is ranked in the top tier of national universities in the 2010 edition of America’s Best Colleges, the annual consumer survey prepared by U.S. News and World Report. The university is the only higher education institution in Arkansas ranked in the top tier.

“This is the third consecutive year that the University of Arkansas has been ranked among the best universities in the country, which is a sign of our consistent improvement,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “The U.S. News and World Report survey is a helpful consumer resource for parents and students who are trying to decide which university is the best fit for them. Beyond that it helps provide the university with a sense of our progress, as well as letting us know we must continue to improve if we want to stay competitive with the best institutions in higher education.” 

U.S. News and World Report surveyed 1,347 colleges and universities to compile its rankings. The “national universities” classification refers to institutions that offer a broad range of undergraduate programs, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees.

America’s Best Colleges bases its rankings on seven categories, each given a different weight toward the final ranking. The “peer assessment” category accounts for 25 percent of an institution’s score, and is the result of surveys turned in by 2,051 college and university administrators. The other categories considered are based primarily on information provided by the institutions: retention rates (20 percent), faculty resources (20 percent), student selectivity (15 percent), financial resources (10 percent), graduation rates (5 percent) and alumni giving (5 percent).

At the college level, The Sam M. Walton College of Business was again ranked among the top 50 business programs, ranked 42^nd overall, up from 43^rd in 2008. Walton College is again tied for 24^th place among public business schools.