For the second consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Temple University among the top 100 universities nationwide in its “Best Colleges” rankings. The university is ranked 98th in the latest rankings, released on Tuesday, September 24.
The rankings rank Temple University 46th among Top Public Schools and 72nd among Best Value.
“At Temple University, we don’t specifically strive for rankings. Instead, we are committed to our mission of opportunity, engagement and discovery, and this year’s rankings demonstrate that it is a mission in which we can all take great pride,” said Temple University President Richard M. Englert. “Being named again among the top 100 national universities in the nation is a remarkable achievement, and I want to thank all of our talented faculty and staff who have contributed to this recognition. You are truly the best.”
Last year was the first time Temple University was ranked in the top 100, and it was one of seven schools ranked 98th in the national universities category.
U.S. News, which has published its “Best Colleges” rankings every year since 1983, began placing more emphasis on quality outcome measures such as graduation rates, graduation performance and social mobility in last year’s rankings, deemphasizing admissions data and removing measures such as acceptance rates and alumni giving rates.
Temple University has historically performed well on outcome indicators, and this year was no different. In that regard, Temple University ranked 33rd out of 434 schools on the Graduation Rate Performance Index. The index is scored by calculating how well a school’s actual graduation rate exceeds its predicted graduation rate. The predicted rate is modeled based on the socioeconomic and academic backgrounds of students.
“At Temple University, we are committed to creating pathways to ensure that talented students from all walks of life have the opportunity to receive the world-class education that is the hallmark of our university,” said President Gregory N. Mandel. “We remain ambitious to create opportunity, and one of the most recent examples is our innovative Temple Promise program. What’s refreshing about these rankings, especially our Graduation Rate Performance Indicator score, is that they really confirm that we are on the right path, and we can all be proud of this achievement.”
Several undergraduate programs also received recognition in the latest rankings released by U.S. News, including the Fox School of Business’s Insurance (No. 4), International Business (No. 12), and Management Information Systems (No. 14) undergraduate programs. The College of Liberal Arts’ Psychology program was ranked No. 68 in Best Undergraduate Psychology, and the College of Public Health’s Nursing program was ranked No. 96 in Best Undergraduate Nursing.
The rankings come on the heels of Temple University welcoming its largest freshman class in years, with freshman enrollment up nearly 30 percent from a year ago. The Class of 2028 is also one of the most diverse classes in Temple University’s history, with more than 60 percent of the freshman class being students of color. There has also been a significant increase in the number of students from Philadelphia, out of state and abroad.