CBS News: The best public colleges in America, ranked

CBS News reported that Niche, a college ranking and review service, has ranked the University of Cincinnati No. 45 among the top public universities in the country. UC nudged ahead of other respected schools such as Auburn University and the University of South Carolina.

Earlier this year, Niche gave UC the top spot in the “Best college locations in Ohio'' category. U.S. News and World Report also named UC the top for cooperative education among public universities and No. 4 in co-op overall for all colleges and universities, as well as No. 68 among the most innovative national universities in 2022. 

“I am not surprised at all by the rankings,” says April Gable, a student in the UC College of Arts & Sciences and former student body president. “It is great to see UC on the rise.”

“Ever since I stepped on campus during my campus tour, I knew this was where I was meant to be. I highly recommend that high school students come to visit campus and see what we have to offer.”

UC, with more than 300 majors, also bucks the national trend of declining enrollment, recording nearly a decade of growth. The university enrolls 47,914 students, or a 2.6% increase over last year’s enrollment. The Cincinnati Business Courier recently reported on this trend and about the feeder schools that send graduates to UC.

The 2022 first-year class is the largest ever with 8,218 students representing a nearly 16% increase, and overall, the UC student body is its most diverse ever with students of color representing 25.5% of the student body population. The university saw its Black undergraduate population increase by 11% while its Latinx undergraduate population grew by 14% this fall.

“UC gave me everything I wanted,” adds Gable. “I’ve been able to travel the country and abroad because of the opportunities UC has offered me.”

Jack Miner, vice provost of enrollment management, says the rankings are just a reminder for the Cincinnati community that one of the best college experiences is in its backyard.

“It makes sense that UC is being recognized because students are not just getting a great education in the classroom but great work experience through our co-op program,” he says. “Better than any other school, our students can see the path to their career.”

Featured aerial photo of the UC campus by Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand.