Awards and Rankings
September 8, 2019
University of Portland is now ranked second out of 113 institutions listed in the “Regional Universities – West” classification – its highest ranking to date – according to U.S. News & World Report. In the 2018 and 2019 rankings, the University placed sixth in the same “Regional Universities – West” category. This ranking marks the 25th consecutive year the University has received a Top 10 ranking. The full rankings can be seen on the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges website.
“We are pleased that U.S. News & World Report has once again recognized the superb educational experience we provide at the University of Portland,” said University President Rev. Mark L. Poorman, C.S.C. “Our position as one of the best institutions in the West is a testament to the quality and dedication of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni. I hope that our performance in this year’s rankings will encourage prospective students and their families to learn more about UP and the many ways we prepare young people to lead lives of meaning and purpose.”
Among notable measures in the U.S. News & World Report methodology was the University’s 90 percent first-year retention rate and annual graduation rate of 82 percent. In addition, the University’s Donald P. Shiley School of Engineering’s reputation for excellence continues to rise. This year, the engineering program was ranked 26th nationally among engineering schools whose highest degree is a bachelor’s or master’s – up from last year’s ranking of 29th nationally.
According to U.S. News & World Report, regional institutions are those that provide a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s programs, but few – if any – doctoral programs. The universities in this category are not ranked nationally but rather against peers in one of four regions – North, South, Midwest and West – because they tend to draw students primarily from surrounding states.
U.S. News & World Report’s methodology for this category weighs heavily on student retention rates, peer assessment and faculty resources; as well as on student selectivity, financial resources earmarked for educational purposes and the alumni giving rate.
University of Portland’s commitment to its mission of teaching and learning, faith and formation, and service and leadership has been successfully proven through its graduates. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, the University of Portland ranks among the highest in the nation alongside peer institutions for the number of students and alumni earning Fulbright grants for several consecutive years.
Earlier this summer, Kiplinger's Personal Finance ranked University of Portland as the top university in Oregon in an annual ranking of “Best College Values: Private Universities.” Forbes.com listed the University 18th nationally in its “The Top 25 STEM Colleges of 2018” rankings. STEM is an acronym used to identify fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The University of Portland was one of only five universities in the west to make the STEM list, and the only university in Oregon or the Pacific Northwest.
University of Portland
5000 N. Willamette Blvd.,
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