The University of Tennessee at Martin remains in the top-tier for southern master’s level universities in the 2013 edition of America’s Best Colleges compiled by U.S.News & World Report.
The rankings, released this week, rate colleges and universities using information gathered from multiple sources. Among southern-region public universities, UT Martin tied for 18th place, up from 20th place in the 2012 rankings.
Colleges are ranked against their peers using information submitted in a survey completed by the institutions and other sources.
Categories used to determine the rankings and to measure academic quality include peer assessment, average freshman retention rates and graduation rates, and faculty and financial resources.
“UT Martin enjoys a strong reputation in this region and beyond as reflected in the new U.S. News rankings,” said Dr. Tom Rakes, university chancellor.
“Our faculty members care about teaching, and this is evident in UT Martin’s having the highest graduation rate among public universities in Middle and West Tennessee.”
The university also released preliminary fall enrollment numbers showing a two percent decline from 7,913 students last fall to 7,751 for the current fall semester. However, full-time equivalency, total student credit hours divided by 15, declined less than two percent.
Declines in returning and transfer students accounted for most of the decline, possibly related to record-sized graduating classes the previous two years and the slow economy.
Increases were noted in first-time freshmen and graduate enrollment.
The freshman class numbered 1,320 students, the third largest in university history, which was up almost two percent compared to last fall’s freshman class of 1,276.
Meanwhile, graduate enrollment was up almost three percent from 413 students last fall to 425 students for the current fall semester.
“We’re pleased with the strong freshman class and increase in graduate enrollment,” Rakes said.
“UT Martin is positioned for steady, sustained enrollments in the future as we continue to offer a high-value education for the students we serve.

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