New Paltz ranks 7th in Northeast in U.S. News & World Report 2013 Best College’s Guidebook

NEW PALTZ – The State University of New York at New Paltz ranked 7th among best public regional universities in the Northeast with both bachelor’s and master’s degree programs according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual college rankings. New Paltz also ranked 32nd among public and private regional universities in the Northeast with bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.

New Paltz rose in four critical categories used in the rankings – average first-year student retention rates, six-year graduation rates, percentage of fisrt-year students from the top quarter of their high school class, and average alumni giving rate.

New Paltz’s average first-year retention rate is 87 percent, increased from 86 percent in the 2012 rankings. The six-year graduation rate is 69 percent, up from 68 percent in the 2012 rankings and 64 percent in the 2011 rankings, well above national averages. The percentage of first-year students from the top quarter of their high school class rose to 76, up from 66 in 2012. Average SAT/ACT scores remained steady at 1040-1220. The average alumni giving rate at New Paltz is 7 percent, up from 6 percent in 2012.

L. David Eaton, vice president of enrollment management at New Paltz, said, “Our historically high performance in U.S. News & World Report and other college rankings reflects our continued performance in attracting, retaining and graduating bright students.”

The rankings will be published in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2013 America’s Best Colleges guidebook, which will be published in the magazine’s Sept. 18 issue. They are also posted on the U.S. News & World Report’s website at http://www.usnews.com.

“We are delighted to see so many SUNY schools ranked among the nation’s “Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report again this year,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “In New York, Governor Cuomo and our public colleges have worked very hard to provide an education of the highest quality that is both affordable and accessible. Today’s rankings are a testament to our success and to the outstanding quality of our campuses throughout New York State.”

The annual rankings, in which U.S. News & World Report categorizes schools based on criteria created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, provide a resource for parents and students contemplating entering the competitive world of higher education. The guide looks at how schools stack up based on 15 widely accepted indicators of excellence, including quality of the incoming class, student/faculty ratio, retention rates and graduation rates.

“New Paltz’s commitment to seeking students who enrich the learning environment is also recognized by U.S. News & World Report,” said Eaton. New Paltz is included among a listing of regional universities that admit a meaningful proportion of applications whose test scores put them in non-“A” territory.” Of the 38 regional universities on the “A+ Schools for B Students” list, New Paltz exceeded all but one in the percentage of first-year students in the top 25% of their high school class, reflecting the College’s dual commitments to high academic standards and a broad, engaged student body.

For the 23rd consecutive year, New Paltz has led all SUNY university colleges in total applications received, total freshmen applications and total transfer applications. With an acceptance rate of 40 percent for first-year students, New Paltz remains one of the most selective universities in the Northeast.