U.S. News & World Report Ranks Florida Tech a Top Tier National University, Among the Best in the State

MELBOURNE, FLA.—Florida Institute of Technology continues to climb in the U.S. News & World Report college rankings, now recognized as a top tier National University. In the just-released 2011 edition, the university was named a Tier 1 Best National University, among just 197 colleges and universities. U.S. News ranks more than 1,400 institutions in its annual study. Florida Tech ranked #159, making it the second-highest ranked private National University in Florida, behind only the University of Miami. Lesser rankings in the report include Tier 2 and Unranked Schools.

The 52-year-old Melbourne-based Florida Tech is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Doctoral Research Intensive university, which distinguishes it from institutions that only offer degrees at the bachelor’s or master’s level.

According to the report, Florida Tech’s freshman classes continue to be academically strong, with 27 percent of incoming freshmen in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class, a 4 percent improvement over 2009. The guide noted favorably that 55 percent of all Florida Tech classes include 20 or fewer students, 2 percent more than last year. Additionally, alumni giving at 24 percent—a 3 percent jump from 2009—has come a long way since the eight percent recorded for 2001.

Florida Tech President Anthony J. Catanese said the university will continue to build on these strengths.

“Florida Tech is an international leader in education, and these new rankings illustrate that,” he said. “Universities are about people—students and faculty,” Catanese added. “These excellent results are reflective of the outstanding institution that Florida Tech continues to be, thanks to its wonderful people.”

This fall, Florida Tech was again named a “Military Friendly School” and also a “Best in the Southeast” institution by Princeton Review. Florida Tech’s new academic year began on Aug. 16.

The exclusive rankings, which include more than 1,400 schools nationwide, are available at www.usnews.com/colleges, and will also be published in the September issue of U.S.News & World Report, on newsstands starting Aug. 31. Over the past two decades, the U.S. News college rankings, which group schools based on categories created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, has grown to be the most comprehensive research tool for students and parents considering higher education opportunities.

Florida Tech’s profile on U.S. News may be found here:

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/melbourne-fl/florida-tech-1469