Colorado State University continues to rank in the top tier of public universities in U.S. News and World Report’s annual “America’s Best Colleges” ratings for 2016.

CSU is ranked 61st in the country in the latest edition, thanks to an ongoing commitment to boost faculty excellence, expand student scholarships and invest in capital improvements across campus. The current ranking marks a rise of six spots since 2012.

“Colorado State University continues to set new enrollment records, fundraising records, and improved graduation rates — all of which can be attributed to the excellence of the University’s faculty, our staff who ensure a first-rate student experience, and our outstanding student body,” said CSU President Tony Frank. “This ranking places CSU among the top tier of the nation’s best public universities, and while we appreciate the recognition, we measure our success not by rankings but by how well we succeed in offering access to a world-class education at a competitive price, while continuing to meet the research and engagement needs of Colorado.”

A-plus schools

The magazine also included CSU on its list of A-plus schools for students who want to be part of a university with a broad, engaged student body. U.S. News noted in its summary that CSU is considered “one of the leading research universities, and faculty and students work together to explore fields such as atmospheric science, infectious diseases, clean energy technologies and environmental science.”

CSU also made U.S. News lists for “Best Colleges for Veterans,” “Least Debt, Class of 2014,” “Highest Six-Year Graduation Rates” and “High School Counselor Rankings.”

CSU is one of the top performing research institutions in the nation, with annual research expenditures of more than $317 million.

The magazine ranked nearly 1,400 colleges and universities this year; a complete list of rankings and methodologies is available at www.usnews.com.

Recent accolades

CSU is routinely highlighted in national rankings recognizing top universities and programs:

• CSU achieved a sustainability benchmark no other college or university had ever achieved: a platinum designation in STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System), a program conducted by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. It is considered the most comprehensive and prestigious sustainability performance measurement program in higher education.

• CSU earned a top spot in Sierra Magazine’s “Coolest Schools” ranking of top green colleges, in addition to being on The Princeton Review’s Green Honor Roll for 2015.

• CSU was named among the Best 380 Colleges 2016 Edition by The Princeton Review. The university’s profile highlights providing students with numerous academic resources that guide them toward academic success with “open communication” between students and the administration. The profile also states that the university strives to prepare students with hands-on experience while they are students so they can be prepared in the real world.” Students surveyed say that CSU is a “hidden gem” that offers a “wonderful education, friendly people, and awesome culture,” along with “excellent” green efforts, a strong engineering program, and myriad research opportunities.

• CSU was named the most sustainable university in the nation. BestColleges.com named CSU the Greenest University in a review of more than 240 universities across the nation, adding to the university’s already impressive list of recognitions for sustainability efforts.

• CSU is featured in the 2016 edition of Fiske Guide to Colleges. Compiled by former New York Times education editor Edward B. Fiske, the Fiske Guide includes the “best and most interesting” colleges in the nation.

• CSU is among Forbes’ Top Colleges for 2015. The university’s profile highlights that the university offers 72 majors for undergraduate degrees and 80 for master’s degrees.Listed research strengths include infectious disease, clean energy technologies, environmental science and biomedical technology.

• Colorado State University’s veterinary school is one of the top programs in the country, ranking No. 3, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2016 Best Graduate School edition.

• CSU’s occupational therapy program is ranked in the top 10 in the country at No.6, in the most recent ranking (2012) for that discipline in U.S. News & World Report’s 2016 Best Graduate School edition.

• The Colorado State University Department of Design and Merchandising’s undergraduate programs are considered among the top 5 percent nationally, according to the latest rankings by Fashion-Schools.org and Interior-Design-Colleges.com.

• CSU’s College of Engineering ranked No. 71 and has several fields ranked in the top 50 in the country: Biological engineering (No. 27), civil engineering (No. 37) and environmental engineering (No. 38) in U.S. News & World Report’s 2016 Best Graduate School edition.

• CSU’s College of Business’ part-time MBA was ranked No. 31 by U.S. News & World Report. The College of Business also received three new rankings this year: No. 50 for best online MBA programs for veterans, No. 31 for best online graduate business programs and No. 57 for best online MBA. The College of Business and its MBA programs also moved up three spots this year to No. 3 in Princeton Review’s “best administered” category.

• Colorado State University’s online bachelor’s and graduate-level education programs were ranked among the best in the nation for veterans by U.S. News and World Report in 2015.

• CSU is among the 100 top values in public colleges and universities ranked in the 2015 edition of Kiplinger’s Best College Values. The rankings are based on academic quality and cost and financial aid measures.

• CSU was designated a Top School in Military Advanced Education’s 2015 Guide to College & Universities. The guide measures best practices in military and veteran education.

• For six years in a row, G.I. Jobs magazine has ranked CSU among the top military-friendly schools in the nation.

• Colorado State ranks number two in the 35 Best Outdoor Schools in America, according to Best College Reviews. In addition to its idyllic campus and location, Colorado State hosts outdoor student organizations: airsoft, fishing, climbing, mountaneering, Nordic skiing, skydiving, snowboarding, English riding, jousting, logging sports, longboarding, mountain horse riding, the outdoor club, and the Heisenberg Society (trebuchet builders).