With its wide range of high-level academic and cutting-edge research opportunities, the University of Arizona seeks to redefine and elevate the student experience. These efforts have been recognized in the latest rankings by U.S. News & World Report.

The UA placed at No. 46 among public institutions in the publication's Best Colleges 2019 rankings – 14 spots higher than last year. Among all universities, public and private, the UA was No. 106, an 18-spot improvement over the university's 2018 ranking and the UA's highest appearance on the U.S. News & World Report list in almost 10 years.

Due to the UA's status as a top-tier research institution, both undergraduate and graduate students enjoy unique access to groundbreaking studies and forward-thinking ventures. Gordon Downs, a UA undergraduate student, is part of a global team of researchers working on the NASA Curiosity rover mission. Another UA initiative, Tech.Global, relies on the expertise of student employees to make new technologies affordable and accessible to the entire UA community.

"It is our intention to equip our students with the skills necessary to compete and contribute in the increasingly challenging global economy," said UA President Robert C. Robbins. "We are stressing a student-centric approach that focuses greatly on the necessary humanistic and adaptive skills required to excel in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. We embrace this broad mission and will work tirelessly to advance our influence on behalf the students and the university."

Illustrating the university's commitment to diversity and student success, the UA earned the designation of Hispanic Serving Institution from the U.S. Department of Education in April.

"At the same time, we remain proud of our status as a land-grant university and a member of the Association of American Universities," added Robbins. "The University of Arizona welcomed 31 percent of this year's incoming freshman class as first-generation college students."

Classroom innovation is at the forefront of the UA's mission to improve the student experience. The Innovative Spaces for Learning and Engagement, or ISLE, Program, is part of an ongoing effort to transform traditional campus classrooms into collaborative learning spaces that are designed to engage students in more active learning. The UA also remains committed to personalized strategies, as illustrated by the efforts of Zoë Cohen, an assistant professor in the UA College of Medicine – Tucson, who identifies struggling students and sends them emails encouraging action and providing support.

The UA finished tied for 68th on the publication's list of the Best Colleges for Veterans. U.S. News & World Report also ranked the UA as one of the top 100 values in higher education, with the university placing 97th on the Best Value Schools list. The UA ranked No. 108 in a nationwide survey of high school guidance counselors, and the university appears on the report's list of A+ Schools for B Students.

The management information systems program in the UA Eller College of Management once again distinguished itself by placing No. 1 among public universities. Among all universities, the program placed third, trailing only the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Carnegie Mellon University. The McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship tied for 10th among the nation's top entrepreneurship programs.

The Eller College also earned recognition alongside the nation's best undergraduate business programs, finishing tied for 21st overall and 11th among public universities. The UA College of Engineering undergraduate program tied for 55th nationally among all doctoral degree-granting universities and 30th among public institutions.

U.S. News & World Report ranks colleges and universities based on 16 measures of academic quality. The measures considered for national universities include graduation and retention rates, assessment by peers and counselors, faculty resources (such as class size, benefits and salaries), student selectivity, financial resources for students, alumni giving, and graduation rate performance, which is the difference between actual and predicted graduation rates.

Editor's note: Not all academic programs are ranked annually by U.S. News & World Report. All of the above rankings, however, are newly released. U.S. News & World Report also releases rankings of best online programs, best global universities and top graduate programs. For questions regarding the rankings of specific programs and departments, email official@usnews.com.