BEMIDJI, Minn. (August 24, 2009) — For the second consecutive year, Bemidji State University has been ranked in the upper tier among Midwest-region master’s institutions in U.S. News and World Report’s America’s Best Colleges 2010 survey. Bemidji State is No. 71 in the overall regional ranking, tied with three other institutions.

Among public master’s institutions, Bemidji State tied for 18th in the Midwest regional rankings with two other institutions.

“Bemidji State University’s position among the top master’s institutions in the Midwest for the second consecutive year helps confirm that the University’s strategic initiatives are having an impact,” Bemidji State University President Dr. Jon E. Quistgaard said. “It has been the University’s goal to be recognized as the Midwest’s premier student-centered state university, and our entire campus community has worked tirelessly in pursuit of this goal. This continued recognition of our efforts is the result of a worthy and rewarding journey.”

Master’s universities are defined in the U.S. News and World Report rankings as institutions which offer a full range of undergraduate programs and some master’s programs, but few doctoral programs. The rankings split 572 master’s universities into four regions, ranking schools in the North, South, Midwest and West.

Bemidji State was one of eight schools in Minnesota that appeared in the Midwest regional lineup.

The University also appeared in the report’s rankings of the top master’s institutions in the midwest for highest percentage of international undergraduate students (4%, t-24th), economic diversity, which measures the percentage of undergraduates receiving Pell grants (32%, t-36th), average freshman retention rate (70%, 95th) and campus ethnic diversity (diversity index 0.11, 125th).

The U.S. News and World Report survey ranks schools based on peer assessment, freshman retention and graduation rates, class sizes, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving rate.

ON THE WEB
• U.S. News and World Report “America’s Best Colleges 2010” Rankings
• About the U.S. News and World Report rankings and methodology