Posted on Aug 19, 2005

U.S.News & World Report has just recognized Murray State University’s continuing excellence as a top tier university for the 15th consecutive year. U.S.News’ America’s Best Colleges is viewed by many as being the top college guide. The newest edition of America’s Best Colleges ranked Murray sixth in the South among Top Public Universities — Master’s. In addition, the university received its highest ranking ever overall from U.S.News, coming in at 17th among all public and private universities in the southern region of the country. Murray is the only Kentucky university to be ranked in the top tier for 15 years in a row. Murray was also named in the South’s best master’s universities Great Schools at a Great Price category for 2006, which ranks both public and private schools. MSU’s solid academic program and affordable price have placed it in the top two best values among public schools in the South, along with The Citadel. This is the third consecutive year that Murray has been ranked in this category, and it is the only Kentucky university ranked in this class. Murray State also fared very well nationally when compared to other top ranking public universities in all four regional categories by overall score (North, South, Midwest and West). According to the overall score among all public master’s universities, Murray ranked ninth in the nation. Top Public Universities By Overall Score — Master’s / Nation 1. James Madison University (VA) 2. College of New Jersey 3. The Citadel (SCJ) 4. University of Mary Washington (VA) 5. Truman State University (MO) 6. College of Charleston (SC) 7. Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo 8. Appalachian State University (NC) 9. Murray State University (KY) SUNY Col. Arts & Science — Genesco “We are honored to be ranked among the best universities in the nation once again,” said Dr. F. King Alexander. “This is another indication of the tremendous educational and economic value of attending Murray State University.” This latest round of high rankings for Murray is no surprise. Over the past several years the university has consistently been recognized by a number of independent entities. Most recently, representatives for the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) out of Washington, D.C., visited the university, which was one of only 12 in the nation selected as a “study campus.” The requirements for being chosen as one of the 12 were the school’s high graduation rates compared to other reporting institutions in the same category, or graduation rates that have improved significantly since 1996. In MSU’s case, both requirements apply. The AASCU team visit found that Murray has done an excellent job in overcoming the retention and graduation challenges that face schools across the nation, citing in the report that “Murray State University has intentionally built a culture that expects students to succeed and that supports them along the pathway to success.” Murray State’s very respectable 77.8 percent retention rate for new freshmen has had an enormous impact on the continuing increases in both enrollment and graduation. In fact, Murray has consistently beat the graduation goal set for it by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education (CPE), sporting the second-highest graduation rate among Kentucky’s public universities, just behind the University of Kentucky. Murray’s high percentage also tops the national six-year graduation rate average for public universities. The figures illustrate that although Murray is a relatively small public university in the commonwealth (it ranks sixth in enrollment), it is graduating more students than many of the larger state schools. The university also excels at turning out graduates who fare well in the outside world. A recent survey by the MSU placement office found that an impressive 92 percent of Murray graduates were employed or in graduate/professional school within six months of leaving the university. Editors at U.S.News recognize the importance of that, saying, “A degree from a distinguished college helps graduate get good jobs and gain entrance to the world’s top graduate programs.” A 2003 survey of recent university graduates that was sponsored by the CPE found MSU to be the number one public institution in the state, finishing first in 13 of 23 areas. Outside the commonwealth, Murray has been recognized both nationally and internationally. The London Times in England featured Murray’s innovative residential colleges system that was implemented on campus in 1996. The Times recognized the appeal of an “Ivy League” feeling of belonging on a public university campus. The Chronicle of Higher Education and The New York Times in the U.S. also highlighted Murray’s residential colleges — a system that flourishes at elite private universities such as Harvard and Yale here, and Oxford University in England. Officials at MSU credit the residential colleges with a portion of the school’s successful retention effort. A safe place for students to study and live is more important than ever in today’s world. Murray was recognized in the book, Crime at College, as being located in a very safe area. The university’s location was ranked first in the state and 11th overall in the country. Additionally, Murray State University has been recognized for its quality education, affordability and its unique setting by The Princeton Review, Money Guide, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Southern Living, the MIT Student Review and a Carnegie Mellon study. Murray’s multiple strategies to ensure student success make these accolades possible. The university has helped students to achieve their potential by creating a strong sense of community on campus, developing a web of support for students such as retention alerts and First Year Experience programs for new students, fostering a commitment to excellence, continually improving the campus and its programs, and emphasizing communication and collaboration across the campus. The 2006 America’s Best Colleges guide will hit newsstands on Monday, Aug. 22. Rankings will be available online on Friday, Aug. 19, at www.usnews.com.