Two academic programs at NIU received high marks in this year’s U.S. News & World Reports College Rankings.

The 2005 rankings of Undergraduate Accountancy programs tied NIU with the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities at 25th – one spot higher than last year.

The department, despite the current ranking, could improve its standings and demonstrate to prospective students the quality of education NIU has to offer, said Greg Carnes, chair of accountancy at NIU. He said that the recent addition of Barsema Hall has helped draw attention to the accountancy program.

“I think that other administrators realize that we have excellent faculty and students, which are the key ingredients to greatness,” Carnes said.

NIU’s undergraduate engineering program tied for 39th, jumping 10 spots from last year. The schools that tied with NIU include: California State University, Northridge; Mercer University, GA; Miami-Ohio University, Oxford; Northern Arizona University; Texas Christian University; U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, NY; and University of Wisconsin, Platteville.

Improvements were made last fall to help the engineering department climb its way up the ranks, said Mansour Tahernezhadi, acting associate dean of the College of Engineering.

“We have pushed our undergraduate students to be more aware of what we are trying to achieve here in the school of engineering,” Tahernezhadi said. “We are always trying to find a way to improve the type of education we provide here at NIU.”

U.S. News & World Reports ranks colleges from all over the nation by a peer survey of deans and senior faculty. All the schools ranked offer only bachelor’s or master’s degrees, while doctoral programs are ranked separately.

Top Undergraduate Accountancy Programs

1. University of Texas (Austin)

2. University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign)

3. University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)

4. University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)

5. University of Southern California (Marshall)

25. NIU

University of Minnesota (Twin Cities)

Top Undergraduate Engineering Programs

1. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology (IN)

4. United States Military Academy (NY)

United States Naval Academy (MD)

10. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (FL)

21. Bradley University (IL)

39. NIU

Source: US News & World Reports 2005 College Rankings