14730849623_6acc4db96b_zWinona State University ranks as the second public university in Minnesota according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2016 edition of Best Colleges, Midwest regional category.

WSU is ranked seventh overall in Minnesota, and tied for 18th among public universities in the Midwest. Out of the 112 public and private institutions on the list, WSU ranks 72nd overall. Four other members of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system are ranked on the list. WSU is the highest-ranked MnSCU institution.

WSU is also listed among the U.S. News 2016 Best Colleges for Veterans. These are the top-ranked schools in the 2016 Best Colleges rankings that participate in federal initiatives helping veterans and active-duty service members pay for their degrees.

“For more than 150 years, Winona State has led the region with innovative, high-quality academic programming, and a strong focus on student success,” said University President Scott R. Olson. “Our U.S. News rankings reflect our reputation for excellence both in our classrooms and in our communities. We believe WSU is a pathway to fulfilling hopes and dreams, through education, through outreach and through service.”

The U.S. News Best Colleges rankings compare accredited four-year schools on a set of up to 16 widely accepted indicators of excellence, including peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, graduation rate performance, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, and alumni giving.

The annual ranking of schools is available for review online at usnews.com/colleges.

About Winona State University

Founded in 1858, Winona State University is a comprehensive, regional public university with more than 8,500 students. The oldest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, WSU offers more than 80 undergraduate, pre-professional, licensure, graduate and doctorate programs on its three campuses in Winona and Rochester. Winona State has been ranked as the second public institution in Minnesota by U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” since 2010, has been named among the “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review for 12 years in a row, and has been featured as one of America’s 100 Best College Buys for quality and value for 19 consecutive years. The university’s mission is to enhance the intellectual, social, cultural and economic vitality of the people and communities we serve: a community of learners improving our world. For more information, visit: www.winona.edu.