ASU named one of nation's best

Arizona State University is named as one of the best national universities in the 2008 edition of "America's Best Colleges" by U.S. News & World Report.

ASU has advanced its position among the nation's top universities, ranking 124, up six spots from 130 last year. The progress moves the university into the top tier of the rankings.

"Arizona State University's ascent in the rankings is a clear endorsement that a university can be both accessible and excellent. Our student acceptance rate increased as well as our quality," said ASU President Michael Crow. "I am extremely proud of those who have contributed to our success -- our students, our faculty and staff who teach and support them, our loyal alumni and friends, and the state of Arizona."

Among the factors that determine national university rankings, ASU saw gains in its student performance, quality of its faculty, alumni giving, and expenditures per student. Improvements were noted in:

• Graduation rate performance
• The university's six-year graduation rate
• Freshman in the top 10 percent of their high school class
• Freshman retention rate
• Average faculty compensation
• Percentage of faculty with terminal degrees
• Percentage of faculty who are full-time
• Expenditures per student
• Percentage of classes with fewer than 20 students
• Alumni giving

The exclusive rankings was published in the magazine's August 27 issue and available online at www.usnews.com/colleges.

For more information, visit the U.S. News & World Report web site at www.usnews.com.