Purdue ABE graduate program rated best fifth year in row

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University's Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering has been selected by U.S. News & World Report for the fifth consecutive year as offering the best such graduate specialty program in the nation.

Department Head Bernard Engel credited the annual top ranking to the continued strong partnership between the Colleges of Agriculture and Engineering that allows the program to recruit outstanding faculty, staff and graduate students.

"They are absolutely key to building and sustaining the quality of our program," Engel said. "They are conducting innovative, high-impact research that addresses important societal issues by creating sustainable, bio-based products and 'intelligent' machines that increase productivity, reduce fuel consumption and protect human safety, and protect the safety of the food we eat and the water we drink."

The repeated top ranking is testimony to the department's dedication to excellence, said Jay Akridge, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Purdue Agriculture.

"Five years at the top speaks volumes about the kind of students ABE attracts, the care and attention ABE's outstanding faculty and staff give the graduate program, and the leadership of Bernie Engel," Akridge said.

The complete rankings of what U.S. News & World Report considers the best agricultural and biological engineering graduate programs is available on the magazine's website at http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-engineering-schools/biological-agricultural-rankings.

The magazine also rated Purdue's undergraduate ABE program No.1 last year for the second consecutive year. Updated undergraduate rankings will be released later this year.

Writer: Keith Robinson, 765-494-2722, robins89@purdue.edu

Sources: Bernard Engel: 765-494-1162, engelb@purdue.edu

Jay Akridge, 765-494-8391, akridge@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.edu
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