Vanderbilt moves up ranking of top colleges

Vanderbilt University inched higher in an annual list of the country’s top universities released Wednesday by U.S. News and World Report.

The magazine’s latest list of the best national universities put Vanderbilt at No. 15, tied with Cornell University and Washington University in St. Louis. It's an all-time high for Vanderbilt, a longtime fixture of the top 20, which was ranked 16th last year.

Vanderbilt also was included in other rankings released Wednesday by U.S. News. The university was No. 8 in a list of national universities with the best undergraduate teaching, and it was deemed the 12th-best financial value among national universities.

In a statement, Vanderbilt Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos said the university was “pleased to receive these recognitions of the many strengths and values that make Vanderbilt such a special place of learning, discovery and community.”

“Vanderbilt’s deeply held commitment to serving society through education, research and service has positioned the university among our nation’s best,” Zeppos said. “Our culture of providing opportunity combined with academic excellence continues to attract keen interest among bright young scholars and their families.”

Several other local schools were featured in separate U.S. News lists that ranked colleges based on region and other factors.

Belmont University was ranked as fifth-best regional university in the South. Lipscomb University was 18th in the same list.

Belmont was named the regional Southern university with the second-best undergraduate teaching.

Belmont President Bob Fisher said a positive ranking can attract new families and students to the university. But he added that rankings aren’t necessarily the “end-all” statement on a school’s quality.

“I’m always proud for us to be in the top 5,” Fisher said. “I’m always pushing for a little more, a little more.”

Belmont and Lipscomb also were featured in a new ranking of the South’s most innovative schools.

Fisk University came in at No. 7 in a ranking of historic black colleges and universities. Tennessee State University was 21st.

TSU also was included in the list of national universities with the highest levels of student debt after graduation. The list cited an average debt load of $35,645 per student at TSU.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville was included at No. 103 in the main list of national universities. Princeton University topped the list.

Middle Tennessee State University, TSU and Trevecca Nazarene University were on the second tier of the list, which was not ranked.

U.S. News created the lists using an array of data, including freshmen retention, graduation rates and strength of faculty. More information, and the complete lists, can be found on U.S. News' website.

Reach Adam Tamburin at 615-726-5986 and on Twitter @tamburintweets.