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October 15, 2008

BU One of World’s Top 50 Universities

Ranked 46 by Times Higher Education

By Art Jahnke

burank08-2393B-627.jpg Photo by Kalman Zabarsky

Times Higher Education, a British weekly about higher education, has ranked Boston University number 46 in its annual rating of the top 200 institutions of higher learning in the world.

BU President Robert A. Brown says he is pleased with the University’s position. “Although I hesitate to put much stock in these ranking exercises, ” he says, “it is wonderful to be recognized as one of the leading research universities in the world and to be listed along with these peer institutions.”

Provost David K. Campbell says the University is “delighted and justifiably proud” to be ranked among the top 50 universities in the world.

“This ranking attests to Boston University’s global reputation and presence and is an affirmation of our continuing drive toward greater excellence,” Campbell says.

BU is ranked 21 among U.S. colleges.

The rankings are based on the opinions of academics and corporate recruiters, as well as on the ratio of faculty members to students and how often faculty members’ publications are cited in academic journals. They fall into seven categories: peer review, employer review, staff/student review, citations, international staff, and international students. BU scored highest (91 out of 100) in peer review, 85 in employer review, 66 in staff/student review, 73 in citations, 26 in international staff, and 59 in international students. The University’s overall score of 79.1 bumped its ranking up one notch from last year’s 47.

This year’s top-ranked university is Harvard, whose overall score was 100, followed by Yale (99.8) and the University of Cambridge (99.5).

The Times Higher Education rankings are dominated, as they have been in recent years, by American institutions, which took 6 of the top 10 positions on the list, while institutions in the United Kingdom claimed 4. U.S. schools landed 37 spots in the list's top 100, and the UK had 17.

The list is produced by Times Higher Education, formerly the Times Higher Education Supplement, and Quacquarelli Symonds, a company that provides career and education information.

Art Jahnke can be reached at jahnke@bu.edu.

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Comments

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That is fantastic. I am

That is fantastic. I am proud to have attended Boston University.
CG Wells

Ranking

It's a great ranking no doubt about it. Very impressive considering the many high level universities out there. Some should consider this school after they get their high school diploma online ged through correspondance courses.

"BU is ranked 21 among U.S.

"BU is ranked 21 among U.S. colleges." Congrats!

RE:

The rankings are based on the opinions of academics and corporate recruiters, as well as on the ratio of faculty members to students and how often faculty members’ publications are cited in academic journals. Online high school

International

This makes sense. BU has always garned more respect internationally than right here at home. Boston is a tough place to get noticed, thanks to Harvard and MIT! If you travel the world, you are likely to meet very successful BU alumni...well, pretty much everywhere. Also, BU never played nice with US News (until recently). US News will not forgive and forget, thus the sub par ranking.

Finally!

This is great! BU never gives into US News & World Report shannagans, and the university is now getting the recognition it deserves. So good to see.

BS? Ha, US News and World

BS? Ha, US News and World Report's magazine is written below a 5th grade reading level. They also have the University of Florida ranked well ahead of Boston University. I'll put my stock in what academics think rather then US News and World Reports rankings that includes number of varsity sports in its forumula.

What??

We're relying on Brits to rank our colleges and Universities? They can't even drive on the correct side of the road!!!

This is B.S. not reliable at

This is B.S. not reliable at all. look at US NEWs or other ranking guys.

Easier to Pay the Tuition

Being ranked in the world's top 50 will make it a little easier to write next semester's tuition check. Some of the rankings are highly suspect: Tufts at 157 and USC at 102 for example but this will only help BU. Hockey ranked number 5 after wins over North Dakota and Michigan State and Number 50 in the Times rankings: BU is on a roll.

Why our ranking improved ...

Dean Elmore is hip. He listens to Mary J. Blige. BU was given a 98 out of 100 on the Dean hipness scale. I hope Dean Elmore and I are able to get together and talk about our Columbus Day weekends. Houz Note: Also, don't forget to vote. It's like Puffy said - vote or die!

BU Fishy Ranking

Ranks first in dorm silverfish per student. Infestation justification?

I am currently a senior at

I am currently a senior at BU and I am incredibly pleased with my experiences here so far. Congratulations to our faculty, staff, and students! this is well deserved =-)

BU #46 but Georgetown at

BU #46 but Georgetown at #110? That list is a joke.

ranking

Hey, our overall score was a 71.9 Thats a 2.0 GPA. I can even get a job with that score?

"'BU is ranked 21 among US

"'BU is ranked 21 among US colleges.' Source?" If you look at the list, and eliminate colleges outside of the US, it leaves only 20 "US" colleges before the Boston University listing. Hence, BU is ranked 21 among US colleges.

Times Higher Education Ranking

Finally, BU's quality is recognized by a university ranking organization. I attended BU in the 70's when it didn't get much respect, but I always felt that it was a much better university than people thought at the time. But, we shouldn't get carried away because the quality of an education depends on how the student utilizes a school's resources. Rankings fail to measure that very important value. But it is a guilty pleasure to go to the QS-THES site (http://www.topuniversities.com/worlduniversityrankings/) and see that our crosstown rival, BC, is not even listed among the 500 ranked universities.

The best is yet to come

What a wonderful accomplishment. I've seen great improvements in my two years as a student, so I'm very excited to see what is to come.

BU was 60 in us news no?

BU was 60 in us news no?

w00t

w00t

"BU is ranked 21 among U.S.

"BU is ranked 21 among U.S. colleges." Source?

Go BU! Next year probably it

Go BU! Next year probably it can rank within the top 20 among US schools. I am amazed by the changes and improvements here in the last 5 years.

Just take a look, i think

Just take a look, i think you would be happy with where i am :D

ranking

entirely justified, IMHO

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