International business, other programs and campus diversity were ranked highly by U.S. News and World Report’s 2012 guide.
San Diego State University’s international business program ranked No. 11 nationwide, according to the latest issue of U.S. News and World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges 2012.” The annual best colleges rankings were released to the public on Sept. 13.
Success due to cross-campus collaboration
Jim Gerber, director of the international business program, credits the program’s success to its cross-campus collaboration and SDSU’s globally focused culture of research and scholarship.
“The ranking illustrates how SDSU’s commitment to international education remains strong,” Gerber said.
“We are grateful for the recognition and we know that the success of the program today is in large part due to the scholars who built the program and who continue to dedicate themselves to its success.”
Other highly ranked programs
SDSU’s undergraduate programs in business and engineering were also ranked among the nation’s best.
Once again, SDSU ranked among the best public colleges (No. 89). In addition, out of 1,600 institutions ranked nationwide, SDSU was on the list of schools with the highest rates of students graduating within six years.
Approximately 66 percent of students graduate within six years, compared to a nationwide average of 55 percent in public institutions, as noted by a study from the Chronicle of Higher Education, ranking SDSU No. 1 in the U.S. for improved graduation rates. Six-year graduation rates are the reporting standard.
Recognizing ethnic and economic diversity
U.S. News & World Report also ranked universities on a number of other criteria including campus ethnic and economic diversity. SDSU ranked No. 18 for campus ethnic diversity for the student body’s wide range of racial and ethnic backgrounds. More than half of SDSU’s undergraduate students are students of color.
SDSU ranked No. 7 in the nation and No. 2 in California for bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanics according to Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education’s Top 100 Colleges for Hispanics. SDSU also ranks No. 13 in the nation for bachelor’s degrees conferred to ethnic minorities according to Diverse Issues in Higher Education.
Additionally, SDSU ranked among the top 100 universities for economic diversity. Approximately 34 percent of students received federal Pell grants in 2009-10. SDSU was also among the campuses whose students graduated with the least amount of debt, ranking No. 15 nationally.
In March, more than a dozen SDSU programs were ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Graduate Schools 2012.” Among them, SDSU’s rehabilitation counseling program ranked No. 9.