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September 13, 2002

U.S. News: Purdue among best; engineering, business rank high

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University's undergraduate programs in engineering and business are among the best in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report magazine rankings released today (Friday, 9/13).

Purdue's Schools of Engineering tied with the University of Texas-Austin for 10th nationally among doctoral-granting universities. The Krannert School of Management tied with Ohio State and the University of Minnesota's Carlson School for 14th in the nation.

Overall, the magazine ranked Purdue No. 20 in the nation (tied with Rutgers, the University of Iowa and University of Minnesota-Twin Cities) among the top public doctoral degree-granting universities. Indiana University ranked 28th (tied with Virginia Tech and University of Missouri-Columbia).

"This year's U.S. News rankings reflect Purdue's strategic strengths," said Purdue Provost Sally Frost Mason. "We are confident our strategic plan and our planned $100 million investment in Discovery Park initiatives will take us to the next level of excellence and the increased recognition that follows."

In engineering specialties, Purdue ranks No. 3 in industrial/manufacturing engineering, No. 6 in civil engineering, No. 7 in mechanical engineering, No. 7 in aerospace engineering, No. 8 in electrical/electronic engineering, No. 8 in nuclear engineering, No 13 in computer engineering (tied with University of Wisconsin-Madison), No. 14 in chemical engineering, and No. 15 in materials engineering (tied with California Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities).

Krannert's undergraduate programs in production/operations management ranked No. 3; its quantitative analysis/methods ranked No. 4; supply-chain management ranked No. 9; e-commerce ranked No. 12; management information systems ranked No. 16; finance ranked No. 18; and management (human resources and strategic management) ranked No. 24.

The magazine bases its specialty rankings on ratings by deans and senior faculty in those disciplines at peer institutions.

Purdue's Schools of Engineering have announced numerous initiatives since Linda P.B. Katehi, John A. Edwardson Dean of Engineering, arrived on campus Jan. 1.

"We are pleased to be ranked among the top engineering schools in the nation," Katehi said. "But we look at this as a beginning. We have an ambitious investment in buildings and facilities and a commitment to add 75 new faculty members over the next five years.

"These initiatives, together with our leadership in nanotechnology research, will vault Purdue engineering into the ranks of the preeminent engineering programs anywhere."

Purdue's engineering program, with almost 6,200 undergraduate students, is one of the largest in the nation. There are 13 schools, departments and divisions. A master plan calls for $250 million in new construction, $100 million in new equipment and $60 million in renovations to meet anticipated needs for the next 15 to 20 years.

Richard A. Cosier, dean and Leeds Professor of Management, said: "We are extremely proud to be ranked among the top 15 undergraduate business programs in the country. We believe the ranking is a strong endorsement of the quality of our professors, students and programs.

"One of the strategic priorities in the Krannert School is the management of technology, and our top five rankings in production management and quantitative analysis are in line with that goal."

Michael D. Sanders, director of management undergraduate programs, was pleased to see the recognition of Krannert's high-technology programs.

"Purdue and the Krannert School have made a commitment to work hard in e-commerce and management information systems," he said. "These rankings will make us work even harder in those areas."

The Krannert School of Management has nearly 2,500 undergraduate students enrolled this year, majoring in management, accounting, industrial management and economics. In October, the Krannert School broke ground for Rawls Hall, a $35 million, technologically state-of-the-art facility.

The top undergraduate doctoral degree-granting university in the poll was Princeton University. The University of California-Berkeley was the top undergraduate public doctoral degree-granting university.

The top undergraduate engineering school was the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The top undergraduate business school was the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School.

Indiana University's Kelley School of Business ranked 10th in the poll. The University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business tied with Arizona and Florida for No. 22.

The data for determining the nation's best institutions of higher education come from questionnaires sent to all accredited four-year colleges and universities. The magazine then determines its rankings based on several measures that fall into seven broad categories: academic reputation, retention, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving and graduation rate.

Information on the rankings can be found at the U.S. News & World Report Web site. The magazine's college guidebook, "America's Best Colleges," contains a directory of more than 1,400 institutions.

The U.S. News and World Report issue ranking America's best colleges and universities will be on newsstands Monday (9/16).

Writer: J. Michael Lillich, (765) 494-2077; mlillich@purdue.edu

Other sources: Sally Frost Mason, (765) 494-9709, sfmason@purdue.edu

Linda P.B. Katehi, (765) 494-5346; katehi@purdue.edu

Richard A. Cosier, (765) 494-4366; rcosier@mgmt.purdue.edu

Michael D. Sanders, director of management undergraduate programs, (765) 494-4342, mdsanders@mgmt.purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu


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