Assistant Lecturer Jim Verley teaches a physics class in the active-learning classroom
inside the new Michael B. Enzi STEM Facility at the University of Wyoming. Based on
20 indicators of academic excellence, affordability, prestige, diversity and economic
strength, UW ranks in the top 15 percent of the nation’s public universities in a
new list from the publication Business First. (UW Photo)
The University of Wyoming ranks in the top 15 percent of the nation’s public colleges
and universities, according to a new study by a national business publication.
UW is listed in 71st place among 477 four-year public institutions across the country
in the new rankings from Business First, based on 20 indicators of academic excellence,
affordability, prestige, diversity and economic strength.
Among Mountain West Conference schools, UW ranks behind only San Diego State University
(No. 60). Colorado State University is next at No. 94. Among other universities in
the region, the University of Colorado ranks 52nd, the University of Utah is 56th,
and the University of Nebraska placed 73rd.
“Scoring well in college rankings generally is not a priority for UW, as there’s such
a wide variety of them, and some metrics they use are contrary to our mission as Wyoming’s
only public university,” UW President Dick McGinity says. “While we continue to encourage
prospective students and parents to view college rankings with skepticism, we’re happy
to see that UW scores well in this list, even though our relatively open admissions
policy counted against us.”
Business First says its ranking methodology aims to pinpoint public universities and
colleges that offer the best educational experiences to their students. It gives the
highest marks to schools with selective admissions processes, strong retention and
graduation rates, prestigious reputations, generous resources, affordable tuition
and housing costs, diverse faculties and student bodies, and economically robust communities.
College rankings by Forbes, Kiplinger’s and U.S. News and World Report also are taken
into account.
This is the second year of Business First rankings.
To view the full Business First list, go to www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2016/02/23/collegerank.html.
The UW-specific page is here: www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2016/02/23/college240727.html.
For more about the methodology used by the publication, go to www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2016/02/23/collegemethod.html.
Business First is a Buffalo, N.Y.-based publication owned by American City Business
Journals Inc., the nation’s largest publisher of local business news and information
headquartered in Charlotte, N.C.
