WSU Campus Courtyard
Winona State University holds strong as the second public university in Minnesota in the Midwest category of “Best Regional Universities” in U.S. News & World Report’s 2015 edition of “Best Colleges.”
The university is ranked seventh overall in Minnesota, 16th among public universities in the Midwest, and as the 61st regional university in the Midwest, up from 65th in 2014.
“Winona State is well known as a higher education leader in the state of Minnesota and across the Midwest, and the U.S. News rankings reflect our reputation for innovative, high-quality academic programming and a focus on student success,” said Barbara Oertel, associate vice president for enrollment services at Winona State. “Our mission here at WSU is to improve the world, and that starts with a strong focus on serving our students and our communities.”
Of the 109 institutions ranked in the Midwest category, five are public institutions located in Minnesota; of these, four are members of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. WSU is the highest-ranked MnSCU institution.
WSU is also ranked among U.S. New’s 2015 Best Colleges for Veterans, claiming the number 22 spot in the Midwest. This listing ranks 311 top-ranked schools from the 2015 Best Colleges listings (123 public, 188 private) that participate in federal initiatives helping veterans and active service members apply, pay for and complete their degrees.
The U.S. News Best Colleges listings, now in their 30th year, rank nearly 1,400 schools nationwide, including 620 regional universities divided into four geographic categories (North, South, Midwest and West). The rankings compare accredited four-year schools on a set of up to 16 widely accepted indicators of excellence, including peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, and alumni giving.
The annual ranking of schools is available for review online.
About Winona State University
Founded in 1858, Winona State University is a regional public university with more than 8,600 students. The oldest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, WSU offers more than 80 undergraduate, pre-professional, licensure, graduate and doctorate programs on its campuses in Winona and Rochester. Winona State ranks as the second public institution in Minnesota in the 2015 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges,” has been named among the “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review for 11 consecutive years and has been featured as one of America’s 100 Best College Buys for quality and value for 18 straight years. The university’s mission is to enhance the intellectual, social, cultural and economic vitality of the people and communities we serve: a community of learners improving our world. For more information visit http://www.winona.edu.
