By Freddie Zamora

The annual U.S. News ‘ World Report college rankings often carry a hefty weight when it comes down to promoting a college to high school seniors. This year’s results, even though not easily seen by the naked eye, have been good news for Northeastern University. Northeastern is ranked in the third tier, which includes schools ranked from number 127 through 186. Within the third tier, however, Northeastern is on the verge of breaking out. This year, the school is at the 127 mark, while ranked 142 last year. “With being 127, we’re confident to go forward. It is an indicator that we’ll be in the next tier soon,” said Ed Klotzbier, spokesman for the university. Northeastern’s results show that in the 2002 school year, it received a 2.9 out of five points in peer assessment, 56 percent graduation rate, 82 percent of a freshman retention rate, 21 percent of freshmen in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class, 88 percent in the top half of their graduating class, and the freshmen acceptance rate was 61 percent. In the 2002-2003 school year, the university’s freshman admissions was depicted as “more selective,” with 17,037 students applying and 10,454 being accepted. Forty-three percent of classes have fewer than 20 students, 11 percent of classes have 50 or more students, 89 percent of faculty are full-time and there is a 17 percent alumni giving rate. The magazine goes through a rigorous point system consisting of various amalgams in order to put out the rankings each year. Every category is worth a certain number of points, and based on the scores compared to other colleges, they’re placed from highest to lowest. Each college around the nation was sent a survey and then compared with other schools in the country as well as those within the school’s region. For this year’s results, 94 percent of schools returned surveys. Most of the data presented in the 2004 U.S. News ‘ World Report college rankings are numbers from fall 2002. Peer assessment is worth 25 percent. This is a category that consists of provosts and deans of admission at other colleges and universities to rate a peer school’s academic programs on a five-point scale from one, being marginal, to five, which is distinguished. Retention is worth 20 percent. The magazine looked for the six-year graduation rate of any given school and the freshmen retention rate. Faculty resources is worth 20 percent. Class size is a factor in this. The magazine looked for those schools that had class sizes fewer than 20 students as well as those with classrooms consisting of 50 or more students. Faculty salary and benefits are also weighted in this category. Another factor in this section was the proportion of professors in the highest degree in their field, the student-faculty ratio and the proportion of full-time faculty. Student selectivity is worth 15 percent. The magazine takes into account the freshmen entering a college in this category. The test scores of enrollees are factors here. Their average SAT and ACT scores are taken into account, proportion of freshmen who graduated in the top 10 percent of their high school class and the college’s acceptance rate. Availibility of financial resources is worth 10 percent. This category examines the average spending per student on classroom instruction, research, student services and educational expenditures. Graduation rate performance is worth five percent. In this category a school’s graduation class proportion is compared with its proportion six years prior. Alumni giving rate is worth five percent. This year’s results examined the average percentage of alumni who made donations to their school from 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. Northeastern’s numbers are significantly better than they have been in previous years. In 1993, Northeastern was number 164 on the list, and ten years later it has climbed up 37 spots. Even though Northeastern isn’t given an official number in the 2004 U.S. News rankings, it is known the university is 127 because after the numbers were tallied by the magazine, an official request was sent out for the rank. The numbers in the current edition don’t merit the current Northeastern numbers, as the numbers used for it only highlight the data from fall 2002. “The goal for Northeastern is to be a top 100 school by 2010,” said Mark Putnam, director of university planning and research. “More students today are coming to college, and Northeastern has been able to attract high-qualified students, which ultimately makes the school a stronger institution. Our goal to reach the status we like is approaching substantially.” Putnam said Northeastern is also promoting its name throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic area by using tactics like commercials on PBS, radio and billboard advertisements. According to Putnam, Northeastern is taking the proper steps to improve student selectivity, and its success is outpacing other campuses in the Boston area. “There are four major categories we’re looking into. They’re student selectivity, student success, resources and reputation,” Putnam said. Student selectivity refers to the school’s ability to attract students, student success refers to retaining students, resources is in reference to fundraising and reputation is to gain a better peer assessment. “We’re trying to build on retention. We’re working on improving campus life by improving financial aid and housing. And there are signs of improvement, such as the Customer Service Center and myNEU,” Putnam said. The numbers also reflect that Northeastern is building momentum. In the five-point reputation scale last year, Northeastern received a 2.8, while this year was a 2.9. In spring 2003, there was a 60 percent retention rate, while six years prior it was 40 percent, according to Putnam. “We’re in a great position to move forward next year. The numbers are encouraging for a better ranking next year as our numbers have risen, such as SAT scores and high school grades,” Putnam said. Some students, such as Douglas Lesavoy, a sophomore engineering major, are satisfied with the university’s climbing trend. “The more respect our school has, the more content I am to be a student here,” Lesavoy said.