The Wahoos are back on top again.
U.S. News and World Report ranks the University in a tie with the University of California-Berkeley as the No. 1 public institution in the nation.
The University shared the coveted spot with Berkeley for a year - 1998 - until it dropped to No. 2 in the rankings last year.
The two universities share the No. 20 spot in the list of top public and private universities. Last year, the University was ranked No. 22, and UC-Berkeley was ranked No. 20.
Princeton University reigns as the top university in this year's ranking, followed by Harvard and Yale, which share the No. 2 spot.
"It is super news and a real credit to students, faculty and administrators, especially [University President John T.] Casteen," University Rector John P. Ackerly III said.
Casteen noted the importance of three more public institutions joining the Top 25 - the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, the University of California-Los Angeles and the University of Michigan.
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"The nation needs both strong public and strong private universities," Casteen said. "Perhaps the rankings suggest that public education is returning to center stage - if so, good for everyone."
He said faculty, administrators and board members all respect UC-Berkeley as a "powerhouse." UC-Berkeley's well-funded research balances with the University's strong undergraduate, graduate and professional teaching, he added.
Dean of Admissions John A. Blackburn said while the rankings do not represent all a university has to offer, many prospective students and their parents still make decisions about what universities to apply to based on rankings.
Last spring, some critics said the 16 percent drop in applications for the entering first-year class stemmed in part from the University's drop to the No. 2 slot.
The top spot is exactly where the University belongs, Faculty Senate Chairwoman Patricia H. Werhane said.
"I think it's terrific -- it reflects on the quality of the faculty and administration behind us," Werhane said. "It's exactly where we should be."
The rankings are important, even though some colleges and universities won't admit it, said Daniel Hernandez, editor-in-chief of The Daily Californian, UC-Berkeley's student newspaper. Those holding the cherished top spots always gloat about it, Hernandez said.
The rankings were slated to be released today, but were inadvertantly leaked to the media.
US News and World Report began ranking institutions in 1986, using a detailed system to determine the rank a school receives. Some factors include academic reputation, retention rates, faculty resources and student selectivity.
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