By Anna Simon
CLEMSON BUREAU

Clemson University advanced five slots to number 22nd on the 2009 U.S.News & World Report college rankings of top national public universities released today.

The jump brings the university closer to a goal it set in 2001 of making the Top 20 in the
rankings.

Clemson University President James Barker said the school’s rise to No. 22 among public universities iincreases the value of a Clemson degree and enhances its ability to recruit top students and compete for grants.

“What it means to all of us is that Clemson can work together to achieve anything,” Barker said. “We set our sights very high, and we are close to making our vision a reality. For that I have to thank all parts of the Clemson family.”

Clemson advanced five positions in the rankings from last year, and the school has set a goal of making the Top 20.

In new data released today, Clemson also was ranked second among such schools in a new category called “up-and-coming schools.”

The University of South Carolina was ranked ninth on the list of “up-and-coming schools.” Furman was ranked third and Wofford was ninth among liberal arts colleges in that category.

The College of Charleston was eighth among “up-and-coming” master’s degree-granting universities in the South, and Anderson was second among “up-and-coming” baccalaureate degree-granting colleges in the South.

USC’s Moore School of Business ranked first among specialty undergraduate business programs, and The Citadel and Clemson made top engineering school lists.

Clemson officials said the climb in the rankings results from increasing the graduation rate from 75 percent to 78 percent; upping the freshman retention rate from 88 percent to 90 percent; and increasing alumni giving.

In addition, there are more classes with fewer than 20 students and more freshmen — 52 percent — in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating classes.

USC President Harris Pastides called his school’s advance in the rankings “gratifying” and said, “Leaders in the academic world are taking note of what we’ve known for some time: This university provides an outstanding education for students and we’re pioneering innovation and leadership in several areas.

“Maintaining the high quality of our students’ education and experience is paramount to this institution, and so, too, is ensuring this great university is as accessible to the people of South Carolina as possible. That’s first and foremost — the rankings will follow.”

Furman President David Shi, a critic of the rankings, which have created controversy among higher education officials, said, “Such ballyhooed rankings persist because they help sell a lot of magazines.”

“Apart from continuing to express our skepticism about the validity of the rankings, Furman will continue to provide prospective students with as much meaningful information as possible so they can make well-informed decisions about which college is best for them,” Shi said.

U.S. News & World Report editor Brian Kelly said the 25-year-old annual rankings “demystify the college search” by providing information for students and families, and new ranking categories and editorial content added this year “address the most relevant issues to prospective students.” 