HYDE PARK — The University of Chicago tops the local list of schools in the annual U.S. News and World Report rankings published Tuesday, coming in tied for No. 5 among national universities.
The U. of C. also scores in the top 20 on the U.S. News list of "best values," ranking No. 13. That ranking is based on a formula that includes academic achievement, aid and total cost.
The U. of C.'s tuition and fees bill is $46,386 per year. Some 44.5 percent recieved need-based grants.
The U. of C. ranked fourth on last year's list.
Other local schools on the list of national universities are: Northwestern (No. 12); Loyola University (101); Illinois Institute of Technology (109); DePaul University (121); and the University of Illinois at Chicago (128.)
St. Xavier was ranked No. 42 under regional universities, Midwest. Roosevelt University was ranked No. 77 for regional universities, Midwest.
National universities are defined as institutions offering a full range of undergraduate majors, plus master's and Ph.D. programs. The colleges also are "committed to producing groundbreaking research."
Regional universities offer a full range of undergrad programs and some master's programs, according to the U.S. News rankings.
The rankings are based on 16 academic criteria.
But in an analysis by the Washington Post of the lists since 2010-11, Loyola was listed as one of the top gainers, up 16 positions. UIC moved up 15 positions.
"If a school rises or sinks 10 or more spots in the course of a few years, that could illuminate a significant change in what is a highly competitive marketplace. Even if the rankings are mainly about perceptions, those perceptions do influence consumers," the Post analysis said.
The top five national universities were: Princeton (1), Harvard (2), Yale (3), Columbia (4) with the U. of C. and Stanford tied at No. 5.
