The University of Arizona has ranked ahead of Arizona State University in U.S. News & World Report’s list of best colleges on Sunday, but ASU remained No. 1 on the website’s list of most innovative schools for the sixth year in a row.
UArizona came in at the No. 97 overall spot on the list — a 20-spot jump from last year — and was ranked the 40th-best public school. ASU trailed just a few spots behind at No. 103 overall, while Northern Arizona University also found itself among the list at No. 284.
The University of Arizona also saw improvements to its undergraduate business (No. 32) and engineering (No. 53) program rankings.
“We are thrilled to see our university make such incredible gains in the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings,” UArizona President Robert Robbins said in a press release.
“Our university has remained unwavering in its focus on providing a world-class education during this unprecedented time in our nation’s history.”
ASU finished ahead of the likes of prestigious academic schools such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford, Johns Hopkins and Duke in the top 15 for innovation.
The list was compiled by conducting a peer assessment survey performed by top academics in the spring and summer of this year.
College presidents, admissions deans and provosts nominated up to 15 colleges or universities that they deemed to be making the most innovative improvements to curriculum, campus life, students, faculty, technology or facilities.
In order to make the list, a school had to receive at least seven top-15 nominations.
“Innovation is infused in ASU’s DNA because we are designed to spark, support and manifest new ideas,” President Michael Crow said in a press release.
“Innovation can be found at all levels of our education, our research and our community engagement. It drives our perpetual evolution and it will continue to guide us as we work toward solutions to the next great challenges of a complex future.”
U.S. News & World Report also ranked ASU as No. 9 in first-year experiences, No. 16 in undergraduate teaching, No. 19 in senior capstones, No. 24 for its undergraduate business program and No. 46 for public schools.
