Daytona Beach, Fla., Aug. 18, 2006 -- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has once again earned the top ranking in the annual "America's Best Colleges" guide published by U.S. News & World Report magazine.
In the specialty category of "Aerospace/Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering Programs" at schools where the highest degree is a master's, Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach campus took first place, followed by the U.S. Air Force Academy in second, and Embry-Riddle's Prescott, Ariz., campus in third.
The university, which has one of the largest aerospace engineering programs in the nation, has won the top spot every year since the category was introduced in 2001.
"Embry-Riddle has a long tradition of academic excellence in all areas of aviation and aerospace," said Dr. John P. Johnson, the university's president. "The fact that U.S. News continues to honor us with its highest ranking is a testament to the talent and dedication of our faculty, staff, and students."
In the overall category of "Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs" where the highest degree is a master's, Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach campus moved upward this year, from No. 11 to No 9, tied with Milwaukee School of Engineering and Villanova University. In the same category, Embry- Riddle's Prescott campus is No. 16, tied with California State Polytechnic University (Pomona), University of Colorado (Colorado Springs), and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach campus is 13th in the overall category of "Best Universities Master's" (South Region), tied with Centenary College of Louisiana.
The rankings for the "Best University" category are based on reputation (25%), graduation and retention rates (25%), faculty resources (20%), student selectivity (15%), financial resources (10%), and alumni giving rate (5%). The rankings for the engineering programs are based solely on the judgments of deans and senior faculty who rated each program they are familiar with.
Highlights of the college rankings are scheduled for publication in the Aug. 28 edition of U.S. News & World Report magazine, available for newsstand purchase Monday, Aug. 21, the same day the 2007 "America's Best Colleges" guidebook also becomes available.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, offers more than 30 degree programs in its colleges of Arts and Sciences, Aviation, Business, and Engineering. The university educates more than 32,000 students annually in undergraduate and graduate programs at residential campuses in Prescott, Ariz., and Daytona Beach, Fla., at Worldwide locations at more than 130 centers in the United States, Europe, Canada, and the Middle East, and through online learning.
This news release is at http://www.erau.edu/er/newsmedia/newsreleases/2006/usnews.html
