LA VERNE, Calif., Dec. 18, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- U.S. News & World Report has ranked the University of La Verne No. 2 among the nation's over-performing universities for the second consecutive year.
This analysis of the top 20 over-performing institutions, four of which are in California, indicates that La Verne, with an overall score of 85, is a leader in exceeding expectations of its undergraduate academic reputation.
"This report demonstrates that the University of La Verne's push for academic excellence is working," noted Interim Provost Jonathan Reed. "It takes time for our peers in academia to take note. Reports such as this one help move perception closer to what is occurring at La Verne."
This was U.S. News & World Report's second analysis of colleges in the national universities ranking category that are over-performing or under-performing their undergraduate academic reputations.
The analysis notes colleges where the school's overall Best Colleges 2014 rank is better or worse than its peer assessment rank. Through this methodology, the degree to which a university's overall position in the quantitative rank surpasses or lags its undergraduate academic reputation (qualitative) rank is determined.
According to an editorial accompanying the list, "(The) undergraduate reputation among its academic peers has not kept pace with what it has achieved in the underlying academic indicators. This could be because academic reputation is a lagging indicator – it can take time for a school's academic peers to understand the real progress of a university."
The ratings system takes into account key academic metrics such as admissions selectivity, financial and faculty resources, graduation and retention rates, alumni giving and graduation rate performance.
Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report ranked University of La Verne 13th in the nation for Best Online Bachelor's Programs and 35th in the nation for Best Colleges for Veterans.