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ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ tops the list of master’s-level universities in the South in the 2014 edition of “America’s Best Colleges,” the most widely read assessment of the nation’s colleges and universities published annually by U.S. News & World Report. ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ is tied for the #1 spot in the Southern Region with Rollins College of Florida. ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ has the highest reputation score, graduation rate and student SAT scores in the category, which includes 124 master’s-level universities.

In the U.S. News national rankings, ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ is recognized more often than any other college or university for programs that “Focus on Student Success.”

ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ is among the nation’s leaders in the following programs:

• Study abroad
• Internships
• Service learning
• Undergraduate research
• Learning communities
• First-year experiences
• Senior capstone

“We are particularly proud of two points in this year’s U.S. News rankings,” said President Leo M. Lambert. “ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ is the only university recognized for excellence in seven of eight categories of high-impact learning practices, and ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ also earns top marks for its high quality undergraduate teaching. Those two factors are leading ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s growth in stature as a national university.”

In addition, ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ is recognized on the list of “Great Schools at Great Prices,” is ranked the #1 Southern Regional University with “A Strong Commitment to Teaching,” and is named #1 on the list of “2014 Up and Comers” in the Southern region.

The “America’s Best Colleges” rankings, released by U.S. News & World Report on Sept. 10, provide the most thorough examination of how more than 1,500 four-year schools compare on a set of 16 indicators of excellence. Among the quality factors measured in the rankings are peer assessment, graduation and student retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving.

U.S. News uses the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education to produce categories of rankings for colleges and universities. Here are the rankings by category of top North Carolina schools in this year’s edition:

Regional Universities – South (master’s-level – 124 schools)

#1 – ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ
#9 – Appalachian State University
#15 – University of North Carolina at Wilmington
#18 – Queens University of Charlotte

National Universities (281 schools)

#7 – Duke University
#23 – Wake Forest University
#30 – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

National Liberal Arts Colleges  (248 schools)

#9 – Davidson College

Regional Colleges – South (baccalaureate level – 99 schools)

#1 – High Point University
#2 – Meredith College
#15 – Lenoir-Rhyne University
#17 – Catawba College