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College of Engineering Ranked in the Top 10 for Fifth Consecutive Year

When U.S.News & World Report’s annual “America’s Best Colleges” rankings issue hits newsstands August 24, the College of Engineering will appear in the #9 spot in the nation in the “Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs” category among schools whose highest degree is a bachelor’s or master’s.

“We’re so pleased to be recognized again for excellence in engineering education by a publication that prospective students around the country rely on to help them make important decisions about their higher education,” says Dean Gary A. Gabriele, Drosdick Endowed Dean of the College of Engineering. “We’re also proud that our commitment to the College’s ‘teacher/scholar’ foundation and the University’s Augustinian ideals has helped us deliver on our mission consistently over time.”

The 2011 rankings mark the fifth consecutive year that the College has earned recognition among the top 10 undergraduate engineering programs in the country. For this report, the ranking lists undergraduate programs accredited by ABET, formerly known as the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, according to the strength of their academic reputation.

In addition, Villanova University has again earned #1 placement in the Regional University–North category in U.S.News & World Report’s rankings – a position it has held for nearly two decades. The University also came in at #1 in the Regional University–North category for “Great Schools, Great Prices.” This ranking is determined by a school’s academic quality in relation to the net cost of attendance for a student who receives the average level of need-based financial aid.

Villanova has also been listed by U.S.News as a university with a “Strong Focus on Student Success.” According to U.S.News, the universities included in this section of the ranking demonstrate that “some schools are much more determined than others to provide freshmen and all undergrads with the best possible experience….” Within this section, Villanova received special recognition in the “First-Year Experience” list.

The College of Engineering exemplifies this commitment to undergraduate success in a number of unique ways. For example, the College launched its new hands-on First-Year Curriculum in the fall of 2009, with a goal of helping engineering students identify their intended major areas of focus earlier and more effectively in their careers. In addition, students have the opportunity to participate in the Undergraduate Research Program, which allows students to work alongside faculty on real-world research. And coming this spring, the College will launch a new Multidisciplinary Design Lab, through which undergraduates can work on solving real-world problems for industry partners who sponsor research.