Academy repeats as 'Best in the West' -- U.S. News & World Report

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U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  The Air Force Academy was rated No. 1 in the Regional Colleges-West ranking for the fourth-straight year in U.S. News and World Report's 2011 Best Colleges rankings released Aug. 17.

The Academy also earned second place in the nation for best undergraduate engineering specialties of aerospace, aeronatical and astronautical fields, No. 5 in best undergraduate engineering program where doctorate degrees are not offered, No. 8 in best undergraduate engineering specialties of electrical, electronic and communications, and No. 10 in best undergraduate engineering specialty of mechanical.

Additionally, the Academy's management program rated No. 9 among undergraduate business programs where doctorate degrees are not offered and was No. 1 among programs offering only an undergraduate degree.

"This recognition is a direct reflection of both our committed faculty and our top-notch cadets, and it validates our learning-focused approach to teaching," said Academy Dean of the Faculty Brig. Gen. Dana Born. "Specifically, our engineering and management programs were again highlighted as being among the very best in the nation. This recognition helps affirm that the Air Force Academy is preparing our nation's future Air Force officers to become leaders of character in our ever-changing world."

The Aug. 17 U.S. News and World Report ranking follows two other national education rankings that also put the Air Force Academy among the top universities in the nation. Forbes ranked the Air Force Academy No. 11 in the nation on its "2010 America's Best Colleges" list released Aug. 12, and The Princeton Review named the Academy No. 1 in the nation for professor availability in its 2010 "Best 373 Colleges" book released Aug. 2.