Kettering University

Kettering Earns High Rankings and Honors for 2007-2008

By Patricia Mroczek

University retains #1 ranking in “America’s Best Colleges Guide” for 2008

Kettering University has retained its #1 ranking for Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (IME) and continues to be ranked in the Top Twenty in the nation in the 2008 edition of "America's Best Colleges Guide," published by "U.S. News & World Report." Kettering's category is Undergraduate Engineering schools, whose highest degree is a bachelor's or master's degree. "U.S. News & World Report" released the rankings August 17.

            Kettering's national rankings are:

• # 1 - Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering;
• # 3 - Mechanical Engineering;
• #11- Overall ranking for Kettering University (up from #12 last year); and
• "Programs To Look For: Internships" -- one of only 14 in the nation!!!

"Kettering University continues to enjoy the reputation as an institution offering some of the best undergraduate engineering programs in the country. Built on a tradition of co-operative education and preparation of future leaders for a global society, Kettering provides an unparalleled undergraduate engineering work-integrated learning experience," said President Stan Liberty. "I am grateful to the faculty, staff, students, alumni and the many corporate partners whose ongoing contributions modernize and sustain the excellence of a Kettering education," he added.

#1 for year #8!!

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering retained its #1 ranking. It is the eighth year in a row that Kettering has been designated as best in the country in its category. Kettering University is tops in the nation, followed by

• 2. Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo (Calif.);
• 3. Bradley University (Ill.);
• 4. Milwaukee School of Engineering (Wis.); and
• 4. San Jose State University (Calif.).

#3 Mechanical Engineering standing strong in the top five

Kettering's Mechanical Engineering Department, the largest academic unit on campus, continues to be ranked at #3 in the country in its category. The department has been in the Top Ten for the past seven years. Last year, it was also ranked #3.

"The Department of Mechanical Engineering is very pleased with the U.S. News ranking of #3 for the second year," said Dr. K. Joel Berry '79, department head of Mechanical Engineering. "We work diligently each day to ensure quality instruction in the classroom and to ensure a curriculum that is both relevant and attractive. This focus, combined with exceptional hands-on experiences in world class laboratory facilities, supports a unique co-based program that allows our students to excel in academics and in business. The faculty and staff are motivated and committed to our student's success, and look forward to even further improvements in our rankings as we move forward," Berry added.

Overall rank: #11 in the U.S.

Kettering remained in the Top Twenty in the country in the "Best Programs" category, moving up to #11 in the nation. Last year, the University was #12.

Programs to look for - Internship/Co-op

The 2008 academic year is the sixth consecutive year that U.S. News is publishing a list of schools with outstanding examples of academic programs that are commonly linked to student success. With the help of education experts, including staff members of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, eight program types were identified. College presidents, chief academic officers and deans of admission were then invited to nominate up to 10 institutions with stellar examples of each kind of program. To view all the rankings, visit: www.usnews.com.

Kettering named a “Best Midwestern College” by “The Princeton Review”

"The Princeton Review" has ranked Kettering as a "Best Midwestern College" consistently since the publication's founding in 2004.

Robert Franek, the publisher and editorial director of "The Princeton Review," said this recognition is important because it relies heavily on student input. This year's student opinion data was from a total of 654 schools, Franek said, and is featured on the Best Colleges: Region by Region section of PrincetonReview.com. "We commend these institutions for their excellent academics and we believe our choices offer applicants and their parents a wide range of fine schools to consider applying to," Franek explained. "Kettering University is one of 161 schools on the site receiving our Best in the Midwest designation," he added.

Kettering senior Joel Stone, a Management major from Bloomington, Ill., said he thinks college rankings are "reflective of how we feel about the college." Stone's co-op is at Grupo Antolin, a tier-1 automotive supplier in Auburn Hills, Mich. "We all think this is a great school and a great place to be," Stone said. "There are some issues on campus but they aren't show stoppers and they aren't things that will stop our ability to grow in the future."

Stone doesn't think that national rankings attract students to a campus. "But I do think it's how you choose one school over another," he explained. "Kettering deserves to be recognized as one of the top universities in the country because of the quality of our students and the quality of our academic programs. Rankings represent our potential growth in the sustainable future," he added.

For more on Kettering University and its "America's Best Colleges" ranking, visit www.kettering.edu.