The University of Central Oklahoma secured several rankings on the 2023-24 Best Colleges list from U.S. News & World Report.
Central received two new rankings this year, solidifying its position as a top institution in meeting critical workforce needs within Oklahoma. The university ranked among the best programs in the nation at No. 183 in “Best Undergraduate Nursing” category and No. 222 in “Best Undergraduate Engineering” category.
UCO also claimed No. 67 in the “Regional Universities West” category, among both public and private institutions, maintaining its ranking as a top public school in the west.
Additionally, the university ranked No. 35 in the “Top Public Schools: Regional Universities – West” category and No. 86 in the “Top Performers in Social Mobility: Regional Universities. As a leader in social mobility, Central continues to focus on economic and social advancement by keeping tuition relatively low, increasing the enrollment of students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and improving the graduation scores of its students.
U.S. News & World Report releases its list of Best Colleges annually. Regional universities are divided into four categories: North, South, Midwest and West and are defined as universities that offer “a full range of undergraduate programs and some master’s programs but few doctoral programs.”
According to U.S News & Report, rankings for the Best Colleges list are determined based on key indicators, gathered using a combination of the institution’s responses to the U.S. News & World Report statistical survey, information from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics and information gathered in assessments from peer institutions. These key indicators include graduate and retention rates for students, undergraduate academic reputation, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving rates.
With strong connections throughout the Oklahoma City metro, UCO is dedicated to developing in students the confidence to succeed through transformative learning experiences.