Among public universities, SUNY Fredonia was ranked 9th in the North by U.S. News & World Report in its 2006 college rankings issue which hits the newsstands Monday, Aug. 22. It was also cited in the top 50 of the Best Universities in the North, putting it in the top tier for quality.
 
In both cases, SUNY Fredonia was ranked in its category, which includes all institutions offering a comprehensive selection of degree programs at the bachelor's and master's level. The rankings appear in the Aug. 29 issue of the magazine.
 
"We're pleased with our overall ranking, but what we do is focus on the individual components within the rankings," Fredonia President Dennis L. Hefner said, noting the school's emphasis on ensuring freshmen stay in school and graduate. "Two things which elevate Fredonia's standings in these rankings are its excellent graduation and retention rates. We have programs in place designed to ensure our students have the best experience possible."
 
Fredonia offers a four-year guarantee that's backed up by its own commitment to guarantee students have all the courses they need to graduate on time-as long as they follow the advice of their academic advisors on what to take, and when. Its Liberal Arts Freshman Year program for first-year students gives extra attention to freshmen who start their four-year degree program without a fixed focus or plan.
 
U.S. News & World Report gathered data from each college in up to 15 indicators of academic excellence to rank the nation's colleges. Among the indicators are such things as peer reputation, retention, graduation rates, faculty resources, financial resources, alumni giving rate, and class size.

Click to see last year's ranking.

3 Sources: U.S. News Master's Rankings; U.S. News National U Rankings; U.S. News Best Value list

• 2006 Best Universities (Master's): North
  SUNY Geneseo: 12
  SUNY New Paltz: 42
  SUNY Fredonia: 50
  Top Tier goes to rank of 82
  Third Tier (there is no second tier): Brockport, Cortland, Oneonta, Potsdam, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Purchase
  Fourth Tier: Buffalo State
   
  
• Top Public Universities (Master's) North:
  SUNY Geneseo: 2
  SUNY New Paltz: 5
  SUNY Fredonia: 9
  Rank ends at 9 (there are several ties, including 9)
   
  
• Best National Universities: North
  SUNY Binghamton: 74
  SUNY ESF: 93
  SUNY Stony Brook: 97
  SUNY Buffalo: 115
  Top Tier ranked to 120
  Third Tier: SUNY Albany
   
  
• Top 50 Public National Universities (nationwide):
  SUNY Binghamton: 30
  SUNY ESF: 43
  SUNY Stony Brook: 45
   
  
• Great Schools, Great Prices (National) North:
  SUNY ESF: 50
   
  
• Great Schools, Great Prices (Master's) North:
  No SUNY school, no public school.