'America's Best Colleges'

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Kettering is #1 and #2

Kettering University has returned to its #1 ranking for Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering and continues to be ranked in the Top Twenty in the nation in the 2010 edition of "America's Best Colleges Guide," which is published by "U.S. News & World Report."

For the first time, Kettering’s Mechanical Engineering program is ranked #2 in the country.

"We are extremely pleased to be recognized as one of “America’s Best Colleges” and this time as #1 and #2,” said Kettering University President Stan Liberty.  “This is the first time we have achieved #1 and #2 in academic programs on campus.  This is remarkable news for Kettering, especially with the ongoing economic challenges in the state and in the manufacturing sector.”

Kettering Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Michael Harris said the national recognitions represent "the renewed energy our faculty members are investing in their programs and their students. Each academic area is working hard to be current and relevant to today's students, who bring to Kettering a multitude of new ideas and ambitions.  I am very proud of the tremendous professionalism and advanced efforts that are ongoing in Academic Affairs," Harris explained.  " I know Kettering is stronger because of them.  My sincere congratulations to the faculty, staff and students who brought this honor to campus." 

Kettering's category is Undergraduate Engineering schools, whose highest degree is a bachelor's or master's degree. 

Kettering’s four national rankings in the 2010 edition of “America’s Best Colleges” are:
# 1 - Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering,
# 2 - Mechanical Engineering,
#19 - Overall ranking for Kettering University, plus
Programs to Look For (Internships/Co-op) – one of only 18 institutions in the country to receive this recognition.

#1 for 10 of 11 years
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering has returned to its #1 ranking, after being listed #2 last year. Kettering has been “best in the country” in this category for 10 of the past 11 years.

IME’s 2010 rankings:
1. Kettering University (MI)
2. Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo (CA)
3. San Jose State University (CA)

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Dr. Lucy S. King, interim department head for IME, said the news is very exciting for her entire department.  Being recognized nationally speaks strongly about the program that we offer at Kettering University,” she said.  “It affirms that we have the right curriculum for industry. 

“It’s important to our students to have the confidence that they will graduate as a world-class Industrial Engineer,” she continued.  “Potential students will feel the same and are attracted to winning teams.  Some confirming data from payscale.com states that Kettering graduating engineers’ salary ranks #1 in Michigan, second in the Midwest and in the Top 20 in the nation, including MIT, Cal Tech and Georgia Tech.

“We are grateful to our faculty for their personal attention and dedication to the students, and we are very proud of our students for their performance.  We also give special kudos to our support staff,” she added.  “Ranking #1 stimulates us to continue to work hard on advancing our program in the traditional areas as well as emerging fields to stay on top.”

Kettering’s Mechanical Engineering department jumped to a #2 national ranking, up from #5 last year.

2010 rankings: Mechanical Engineering
1. Rose-Hulman (IN)
2. Kettering University (MI)
3. Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo (CA)
3. Cooper Union (NY)

“Achieving this ranking among our peers in academia reflects the high caliber of our students and alumni and the commitment to academic excellence of our faculty,” said Dr. Timothy Cameron, associate department head for Mechanical Engineering. “The Kettering University philosophy of combining a rigorous academic curriculum with relevant real world experiential learning gives our students the resources they need to be successful,” he added.

PROGRAMS TO LOOK FOR – INTERNSHIPS/CO-OP
Kettering is again among the “schools with outstanding examples of academic programs that are commonly linked to student success,” according to the editors at U.S. News & World Report. Only 18 institutions received this national distinction for 2010:
Alverno College (WI)

Berea College (KY)

Bradley University (IL)

Drexel University (PA)

Elon University (NC)

Georgia Institute of Technology*

Johnson and Wales University (RI)

Kettering University (MI)

Keuka College (NY)

New York University

Northeastern University (MA)

Ohio State University–Columbus*

Portland State University (OR)*

Purdue Univ.–West Lafayette (IN)*

Rochester Inst. of Technology (NY)

University of Cincinnati*

Univ. of Maryland–College Park*

Univ. of Southern California

Overall category – Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs whose highest degree is a bachelor's or master's, with * indicting public institutions.  Last year, Kettering was ranked #17.  Here are the 2010 rankings:
1. Harvey Mudd College (CA)

1. Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech. (IN)

3. Cooper Union (NY)

4. United States Military Academy (NY)*

5. United States Naval Academy (MD)*

6. Calif. Polytech. St. U.–San Luis Obispo*

6. United States Air Force Acad. (CO)*

8. Bucknell University (PA)

8. Franklin W. Olin Col. of Eng. (MA)

10. Milwaukee School of Engineering

10. Villanova University (PA)

12. Baylor University (TX)

12. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical U. (FL)

12. Swarthmore College (PA)

15. Calif. State Poly. Univ.–Pomona*

15. Rowan University (NJ)*

15. Union College (NY)

15. United States Coast Guard Academy (CT)*

19. Kettering University (MI)

19. Lafayette College (PA)

19. San Jose State University (CA)*

19. Santa Clara University (CA)

19. Smith College (MA)

19. Trinity University (TX)

19. Virginia Military Institute*

26. The Citadel (SC)*

26. Gonzaga University (WA)

26. Loyola Marymount University (CA)

26. Miami University–Oxford (OH)*

26. U.S. Merchant Marine Acad. (NY)*

26. Univ. of Colo.–Colorado Springs*

26. University of San Diego

26. Valparaiso University (IN)

34. Bradley University (IL)

34. Embry-Riddle Aero. U.–Prescott (AZ)

34. University of Portland (OR)

34. Webb Institute (NY)

One more national mention: The University is also included in a story on Ashley Lowe of Tennessee, who was courted by many of the country’s finest schools and chose to attend Kettering.  See her profile on the U.S. News website at: http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/best-colleges/2009/08/19/profile-letting-the-college-come-to-you.html

"I know that Kettering’s unique model of co-op education is a contributing factor to the annual rankings,” Liberty said.  “I'd like to congratulate the entire Kettering community for their ongoing contributions that help us build and sustain the excellence of a Kettering University education.”

The 2010 "America's Best Colleges" magazine will be on newsstands Aug. 20.

U.S. News & World Report provides a significant amount of information on its rankings, its methodologies and other data.  For general information, visit www.usnews.com.

Written by Patricia Mroczek
810.762.9533
pmroczek@kettering.edu