The University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point was ranked in the top 10 best public universities in the Midwest according to the U.S. News and World Report.

“I think it shows the excellence of our institution,” said Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Al Thompson. “It shows that the students that we bring to this campus are outstanding indi­viduals. The academic programs that exist here are strong. And our faculty are outstanding and care about stu­dents.”

U.S. News and World Report listed UWSP’s attributes such as stu­dent services including non-remedial tutoring, women’s center, placement service, day care and health services. They also made mention of high stu­dent retention and small class sizes.

“I think our campus offers things that others don’t,” said Amy Patterson, an Arts Management major at UWSP. “ We have one of the lowest tuition rates in the state of Wisconsin, but the education we receive is com­parable to the education in the big name schools. We have a constantly updating campus. We have a very aesthetically pleasing campus, in all respects. Though we are a large music and natural resources school, we don’t put one major as superior to another. We have diversity and variety and wholeheartedly embrace it. We are very student centered, offering lots of free events and transportation.”

The U.S News and World Report is used by many people searching for future schools, foreign students looking for universities where they can study abroad and sometimes by faculty when searching for places of employment.

“The rankings provide a tool for students looking at colleges and uni­versities and seeking ways to compare institutions,” said Greg Summers, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. “The rankings are also useful for fac­ulty and staff at UW-Stevens Point as we look to improve our performance in areas that shape these rankings, such as graduation rates, student-faculty ratios and other qualities.”

“It resonates around the world,” said Brad Van Den Elzen, Director of International Students and Scholars Office. “The ranking is one part of many things that students and par­ents consider when searching for schools abroad.

Other schools in the UW system also ranked high on the list. UW-La Crosse and UW-Eau Claire ranked in the top five. Thompson believes that UWSP can move even farther up the ranks in future years.

“This is a wonderful campus,” Thompson said. “It is very unique. I have worked with a number of cam­puses and this is by far one of the most pleasant places to work, it has that very close nature.”