Kettering’s Mechanical Engineering program retained its #2 ranking and overall, Kettering’s engineering programs were again ranked in the Top 25 in the category “Undergraduate Engineering schools, whose highest degree offered is a bachelor’s or master’s.

 

“We are again pleased to have the quality of our engineering programs recognized in the `Americas Best Colleges’ guide,” said Kettering University President Stan Liberty. “This recognition is particularly noteworthy given the region’s ongoing economic challenges. I applaud the outstanding work of our faculty and staff in providing the outstanding learning environment that bring this national recognition to our campus,” Liberty added.

 

Kettering’s national rankings in the 2011 edition of “America’s Best Colleges” are:

# 2 - Mechanical Engineering,

#21 - Overall ranking for Kettering University

Kettering’s perennial #1 ranking in Industrial/Manufacturing disappeared this year when the editors at U.S. News & World Report decided to no longer rank Industrial/Manufacturing programs in Kettering’s category (institutions whose highest degree is a bachelor’s or master’s degree). 
 

"The Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering is very disappointed to see that USNWR dropped our category from their rankings this year,” said IME Department Head W.L. Scheller.  “We continue to be dedicated to offering the best program in the country. One that remains worthy of the 10 years of #1 rankings we have received.

“Our Industrial Engineering degree is one of the Top 10 earning majors, according to payscale.com,” he continued.  “IEs are employed broadly in a wide variety of traditional industries and service industries -- such as healthcare. We hope that they will reinstitute our category next year,” Scheller added.
 
#2 in Mechanical Engineering in the country

Kettering’s Mechanical Engineering department retained its #2 national ranking for the second year in a row.  It shares the #2 spot with institutions from the east and west – namely West Point (the United States Military Academy in New York) and Cal Poly (California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo).

2011 rankings: Mechanical Engineering
1. Rose-Hulman (IN)
2. Kettering University (MI)
2. Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo (CA)
2. United States Military Academy (NY)
5. Harvey Mudd College (CA)

"The Mechanical Engineering faculty and staff are extremely proud of this national acknowledgment,” said Dr. K. Joel Berry, professor and head of Mechanical Engineering.  “We have worked very hard over the last 10 years to provide a program that is relevant and attractive to our students and society in general.
 

“We will continue our push toward the future with an expanded focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, hands-on experiential learning, pre-college programs that provide pathways for junior high and senior high students, and applied research programs supporting faculty scholastic development. Personally, I am extremely proud of the ME faculty for their hard work and dedication to Kettering University and Mechanical Engineering. They deserve all the credit for this recognition,” Berry added.

Overall category – Last year, Kettering was ranked #19 along with Lafayette College, San Jose State, Smith College, Trinity University and Virginia Military Institute, and all five of the schools are now at #21.

2011 Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (without a doctorate):
1. Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. (IN)
2. Harvey Mudd College (CA)
3. Cooper Union (NY)
3. United States Military Academy (NY)*
5. Calif. Polytech. St. U.– San Luis Obispo*
5. United States Air Force Acad. (CO)*
5. United States Naval Academy (MD)*
8. Franklin W. Olin Col. of Eng. (MA)
9. Bucknell University (PA)
9. Villanova University (PA)
11. Baylor University (TX)
11. Calif. State Poly Univ. – Pomona*
11. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical U. (FL)
11. Milwaukee School of Engineering
11. Swarthmore College (PA)
11. U.S. Coast Guard Academy (CT)
17. Embry-Riddle Aero U.- Prescott (AZ)
17. Gonzaga University (WA)
17. Santa Clara University (CA)
17. Union College (NY)
21. The Citadel (SC) *
21. Kettering University (MI)
21. Lafayette College (PA)
21. Rowan University (NJ) *
21. Smith College (MA)
21. Trinity University (TX)
21. U.S. Merchant Marine Acad. (NY) *
21. University of Colo. – Colorado Springs*
21. University of San Diego
21. Virginia Military Institute*
31. Bradley University (IL)
31. Loyola Marymount University (CA)
31. San Jose State University (CA)*
31. St. Louis University (MO)
31. University of Michigan – Dearborn*
31. Valparaiso University (IN)
31. Webb Institute (NY)

* indicates a public institution

The 2011 "America's Best Colleges" is available at www.usnews.com/colleges and in the September issue of U.S. News & World Report, on newsstands Aug. 31.

"As soaring college costs make the decision more complicated than ever, U.S. News strives to provide students and families with the best information to help guide them through this process," said U.S. News & World Report Editor Brian Kelly. "This year the challenge comes down to finding the right college -- at a cost you can afford. The 2011 edition includes specialty rankings, online guides for admission and paying for college advice to help navigate your search."

U.S. News made some changes to the 2011 Best Colleges' ranking methodology and presentation, Kelly explained. This year, schools are designated National Universities, National Liberal Arts Colleges, Regional Universities, and Regional Colleges. “We are displaying the numerical rank of the top 75 percent of schools in each category, up from 50 percent. Graduation rate performance is more heavily weighted, and now accounts for 7.5 percent of the final score (compared to 5 percent previously) for the National Universities and National Liberal Arts Colleges categories only. For the first time, the opinions of high school guidance counselors are factored,” he explained.  For more details, visit:  www.usnews.com/collegemeth

The 2011 Best Colleges package provides an examination of how more than 1,400 accredited four-year schools compare on a set of up to 16 widely accepted indicators of excellence. Among the many factors weighed in determining the rankings, the key measures of quality are: peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving. For more information about Best Colleges, visit www.usnews.com/colleges 

Written by Patricia Mroczek, with U.S. News sources
810.762.9533
pmroczek@kettering.edu