U.S. News ranks U. 11th place in nation

Honolulu, HI Penn received its highest ranking ever this year's U.S. News & World Report's list of colleges - tying for 11th place with the University of Chicago. This year's rankings also placed the University sixth in the Ivies, ahead of Columbia and Cornell universities. This is the first time the University has surpassed more than one Ivy League school. Penn was ranked 12th in last year's U.S. News survey. U.S. News bases its evaluation on several criteria - including academic reputation, resources and selectivity, and then gives each school an overall score. Out of a possible score of 100, Penn received a 96.4 points - two tenths of a point below John Hopkins University, the number 10 school. Although University President Judith Rodin said she questions the methods used in the U.S. News survey, she said the rankings represent what is already evident. "I think Penn is on a roll," Rodin said. "We've had a remarkable increase in popularity judged by the application rate, a 33 percent increase in press coverage and I expect that the momentum will continue." Previously, Penn had not ranked in the top 25. But it has increased its ranking steadily each year - rising from 16th in 1993 to 12th in 1994 to 11th this year. The ranking will add to the momentumm but it won't be a major variable," Rodin added. "Penn is on the move, and everyone is recognizing it." The University's faculty resources were ranked 8th in this year's survey, ahead of Yale and Brown universities and Dartmouth College. It placed 14th for academic reputation, also ahead of Dartmouth. Harvard University remained in first place in the poll for the sixth consecutive year. princeton University also head its second place ranking tied with Yale, which moved up from third place.