Morehead State University once again made the rankings as one of the Top 20 public regional universities in the South, according to U.S. News & World Report.
This year marks the eighth consecutive year MSU has ranked in the Top 20, coming in at spot 19 in the 2024 report. Additionally, this marks the 20th consecutive year MSU has been named a top-ranked institution.
Rick Hesterberg is the Vice President of University Advancement at Morehead State. He said he’s most proud of the consistency in national recognition MSU has achieved.
“Two decades of being ranked in the Top 25 is the result of really staying focused on the student and providing a safe, nurturing campus environment that’s helping increase graduation rates and preparing students for careers,” he said.
U.S. News & World Report looks for certain metrics when determining the ranking of schools. Those metrics include graduation and student retention rates, faculty to student ratio, faculty demographics, and other performance outcomes.
Hesterberg said MSU takes those metrics into account while also placing emphasis on the programs the university offers, as well as providing a layer of hands-on certification to allow students to feel more capable when they enter the workforce after graduation.
“When they leave here, they feel like they’re prepared,” he said. “They’ve had the experiences of not just the strong work inside the classroom, but in laboratories and real-life experiences that they’re going to encounter when they step into that first job.”
University officials said MSU’s overall ranking comes from commitment to academic excellence, and Hesterberg said the university also works to achieve a family atmosphere for both current and prospective students.
“So, we have a unique setting here, a beautiful campus. We have faculty and staff that are here to support you and to try to make every possible attempt for you to be a successful student and a graduate,” he said. “Take that degree, but be ready for that first job so that you can launch your career.”
Murray State University also ranked in the Top 20 public regional universities in the South. Eastern Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky fall under different categories in U.S. News & World Report’s ranking system.
The rankings will appear in the magazine's "Best Colleges 2024" guidebook, released in early October.