OGDEN -- Weber State University was recently ranked by Forbes Magazine as one of the top public colleges and universities to attend.
Weber State was ranked as the 43rd-best public institution to attend nationally. According to the Forbes Web site, the rankings are based 25 percent on student satisfaction with their course instruction; 25 percent on post-graduate success; 16 percent, or one-sixth, on the likelihood of graduation from college within four years; and 20 percent on student loan debt rankings with a little over 13 percent is weighed by national student and professor awards.
"It is extremely gratifying that the university is ranked so highly among national universities," said WSU provost Michael Vaughan.
Vaughan said this scale is different than other rankings, such as U.S. News, where WSU recently was ranked highly as a top public Western university. The emphasis on student satisfaction, as well as success of alumni, is what pushed WSU into the rankings, he said.
"Because Weber State puts a great deal of emphasis on quality teaching, and the relationship between faculty and students, we would view the ranking as a confirmation that we have excellent teaching on campus," he said.
This is the second year Forbes has compiled a list of top schools of higher education. WSU was not listed as a top school in 2008.
This year, three other Utah schools were also ranked on the Forbes list. The University of Utah ranked 16th, Utah State University ranked 24th and Utah Valley University ranked 79th. Vaughan said the emphasis on national awards won by students has also bumped WSU up in the rankings. In the past several years, students have won national awards in music, broadcast, family studies and business, as well as their areas of study.
While the ranking is well-received by university officials, Andrew Young, associate director of admissions, said it's not always a selling point for potential students.
"They are more interested in what interests of theirs are being represented by Weber State," he said.
But Young said admissions officials do share rankings with students when they are doing presentations to high school students or meeting with students and parents.
"We're always pleased to hear that other people are recognizing the great things going on Weber State."
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