Vanguard makes high rank second consecutive year

UCI and Vanguard were honored with high marks on the U.S. News and World Report’s 2009 National College Rankings released Friday.

Vanguard was ranked the fourth best baccalaureate college in the West, cracking the top five for the second consecutive year. Baccalaureate colleges focus on undergraduate education, but grant fewer than half their degrees in liberal arts. Baccalaureate colleges are always ranked by region.

Vanguard also ranked seventh in the West in “Great Schools, Great Prices.” The ranking is based on academic quality versus net cost of attendance. UCI tied for 44th in the National Universities category.

The report reviews more than 1,400 schools. The rankings use assessments by administrators at other institutions, faculty resources, retention of students, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving and average graduation rate.

— Daniel Tedford