8/20/99

ATHENS, Ohio Ohio University was ranked 31st in the nation for academic quality in U.S. News & World Report's annual ranking of public national universities.

"The continued high national recognition of Ohio University is a reflection of our faculty, programs and the quality of our student body," President Robert Glidden said. "All are to be congratulated."

Earlier this year, the university received an America's 100 Best College Buys based on faculty excellence, grade point average of incoming students and scholarships and other factors.

The U.S. News distinction was based on data from universities and from Wintergreen Orchard House, a publisher of educational data, and the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Criteria for ranking the universities include academic reputation; retention of students; faculty resources; student selectivity; financial resources; alumni giving; and graduation rates.

For more information about methodology, visit the magazine's website at: http://www.usnews.com.

A guidebook will be available next week and data from the guidebook will be included in the Aug. 30 issue of the magazine.