The University of Louisiana is featured in the 2016 edition of “Best Colleges” rankings, U.S. News Media Group announced Wednesday.


UL is cited among the best National Universities in the annual guidebook for prospective college students. U.S. News lists 280 national universities, including public and private institutions, in that category.


“National universities are research institutions that offer a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs,” U.S. News states on its website.


Princeton University is ranked No.1 in the National Universities category. Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Stanford universities round out the top five. Tulane University, Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Tech, and the University of New Orleans also are cited in that category.


The guidebook contains information on nearly 1,800 colleges. It also includes rankings on 1,376 schools, in a range of categories.


UL was ranked in several of them. Those categories are: best speech language pathology graduate program (No. 73); best nursing school (No. 181); best part-time MBA program (tied for No. 199), best online bachelor’s programs (tied for No. 199), and best undergraduate business program (tied for No. 299).


UL was cited in the best graduate school rankings in several categories. They are: best business schools, best education schools, best engineering schools, best biological sciences, best computer science, best English, and best math.


The rankings methodology weighs many factors, including academic excellence, and graduation and retention rates.


U.S. News’ 2016 “Best Colleges” guidebook is available online, and will be in stores on Sept. 29.


Learn more about the U.S. News’ 2016 “Best Colleges” rankings at http://www.usnews.com/college

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