Aug 17, 2010 - Claremont, CA -

Harvey Mudd College (HMC) has been named No. 2 among the nation’s undergraduate engineering programs in U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 edition of "America’s Best Colleges," it was announced today. Last year's rankings had Mudd tied for first with Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind., which remains in the first place position. Mudd received special recognition for its Civil and Mechanical Engineering programs specifically, ranking fifth in those categories.

In addition to being No. 2 amid engineering schools, HMC was again in the Top 20 of the nation’s best liberal arts colleges tied for 18th place among a pool of 226 colleges. In the National Liberal Arts Colleges category, HMC ranked as "most selective," with the highest percentage of freshmen who ranked in the top 10 percent in their high school class (94 percent), and HMC had the highest SAT/ACT percentile range (25th-75th) among incoming students with scores ranging from 1420-1560.

HMC was also listed among "Great Schools, Great Prices" for the percentage of need-based financial aid it offers. On the "Economic Diversity" list, HMC was noted for the percentage of its students who receive Pell Grants, a key measure of economic diversity on campus. Gauging the debt load for the Class of 2009, HMC ranked among the top 25 schools whose graduates carry the least debt at graduation.

"We are thrilled to see the College and our Department of Engineering garner this kind of well-deserved recognition," said HMC President Maria Klawe. "It is a reflection of the dedication and excellence of our faculty, students and alumni. I'm particularly proud of how our faculty has shaped our curriculum to meet the needs of today's world. Our liberal arts ranking is a testament to our focus on interdisciplinary teaching, research and professional practice providing a singular educational experience for our graduates, so that they understand the impact of their work on society."

In the spring of 2010, college presidents, provosts, and admissions deans were asked to identify up to 10 schools in their U.S. News ranking category where the faculty has a commitment to undergraduate teaching. Harvey Mudd ranked 17th in the National Liberal Arts Colleges category. HMC was also acknowledged by high school counselors, ranking sixth in their assessment of academic quality. Schools were also recognized for outstanding programs aimed at enriching the college experience. Harvey Mudd was mentioned under "Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects" for providing independent and team-based opportunities for intensive, self-directed research that results in an original scholarly paper or product.

"These honors recognize the extraordinary work we do with a group of extremely talented students," said Robert Cave, Professor of Chemistry and Vice President and Dean of Faculty, "They certainly testify to the dedication of our faculty, staff and administration, along with the success of our alums. I think all of this is confirmation of what an extraordinary place Harvey Mudd College is."

This year's rankings from U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 edition of "America’s Best Colleges," differed from prior lists. Category names were changed, more schools were reviewed and the top 75 percent of schools' rankings were reported as opposed to 50 percent. Graduation rate was weighted more heavily and, for the first time, high school guidance counselors were surveyed to enhance the new "Undergraduate Academic Reputation Index".

Rankings are based on several measures which are weighted to arrive at a final, overall score.

• Undergraduate academic reputation - 22.5%
• Graduation and retention rates - 20%
• Faculty resources - 20%
• Student selectivity - 15%
• Financial resources - 10%
• Alumni giving - 5%
• Graduation rate performance - 7.5%

The full rankings of U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 edition of "America’s Best Colleges" are published in the magazine’s current issue, available on newsstands Tuesday, August 31, and online.