Murray State’s consecutive streak of top rankings was extended to 22 years, and UT-Martin moved up two spots in the rankings from last year. The Citadel in Charleston, SC was ranked at the top of the list.

Colleges are ranked against their peers using information submitted in a survey completed by the institutions and other sources. Categories used to determine the rankings and to measure academic quality include peer assessment, average freshman retention rates and graduation rates, and faculty and financial resources.

“The 2013 rankings continue a long-standing and independent, third-party verification of the high quality teaching and learning that MSU provides to our students,” Dr. Randy J. Dunn, president of Murray State University, said. “This particular report — not just because it serves as the gold standard of the higher education rankings, but also because a good deal of it rests upon our reputation with peer institutions — additionally demonstrates that our national colleagues recognize the level of outreach we provide to our region, the commonwealth, nation and, indeed, the world.”

“UT Martin enjoys a strong reputation in this region and beyond as reflected in the new U.S. News rankings,” said Dr. Tom Rakes, university chancellor. “Our faculty members care about teaching, and this is evident in UT Martin’s having the highest graduation rate among public universities in Middle and West Tennessee.”

In another list ranking Regional Universities in the South, Murray State is in 20th position, while Rollins College in Winter Park, FL tops the list. Bellarmine University in Louisville is 11th, Union University in Jackson, TN is 14th, and David Lipscomb University in Nashville is 19th.