The University of Massachusetts has been ranked among the top 30 public universities in the country by U.S. News and World Report in its 2015 Best Colleges guide, moving up 20 places since 2010.
UMass tied for 30th in the national list, along with Indiana University, Bloomington, Miami University, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and the University of Delaware.
The University also advanced in the publication’s “National Universities” category, climbing 15 places from 91 to 76 in the past year.
U.S. News began publishing annual lists of the nation’s best institutions of higher education in 1983. Schools are ranked based on their performance in a variety of categories, including undergraduate academic reputation, retention and graduation rates, faculty resources, admissions selectivity, financial resources and alumni contributions.
All of these factors have been cited as reasons for UMass’ steady climb through the publication’s rankings in recent years. According to a University press release, the entering class of 2018 is the most academically accomplished in UMass history.
According to UMass spokesperson Daniel Fitzgibbons, the University has consistently improved admissions selectivity and rates of retention and graduation. Additionally, UMass has experienced a steady increase in alumni support.
“This ranking is a key component of building the image of this campus and the reputation of the University,” Fitzgibbons said. “UMass is one of only three schools in the country that have jumped more than 20 places in only five years.”
Since the beginning of Kumble Subbaswamy’s term as Chancellor, University administrators have placed a strong emphasis on improving the public perception and prestige of the institution, in light of the pervasive “party school” atmosphere that many people in Massachusetts and the region associate with UMass.
Last fall, marketing firms Element Productions, Gravity Switch and Rasky Baerlein were hired to “raise the profile of the University on a national level and local level, and to showcase the core attributes of the University,” according to Eran Lobel, chief executive officer of Element Productions. The firms organized events such as last year’s “Stand for UMass Day” in Boston. They have also been responsible for new advertising campaigns on television, in print and online.
In addition to a new emphasis on broad public relations, the UMass administration has taken a special interest in improving relations with the local community. Last winter, Tony Maroulis was named the new director of community relations at the University. Maroulis said that he hopes to expand relationships and interactions between the campus and the Amherst community.
Thomas Dalton can be reached at [email protected]
Correction: A previous version of this story identified Eran Lobel as the chief executive officer of Rasky Baerlein. It has since been corrected above.
