STEUBENVILLE, OH—For the 14th consecutive year, Franciscan University of Steubenville has received a top-tier ranking in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges, 2015 Edition. Franciscan University was ranked 30th overall among 146 Midwest Universities.

Among 12 evaluation categories, Franciscan University ranked 8th best for freshman retention rate and 8th best for its overall graduation rate. Taken together, these two categories demonstrate that students who begin their education at Franciscan University like what they experience and remain at the University until they graduate.

“The U.S. News & World Report ranking confirms statistically what our students tell us anecdotally,” said Father Sean O. Sheridan, TOR, president of Franciscan University. “Namely, that our students want to be immersed in our campus culture because of how Franciscan University forms them intellectually and as men and women of God.”

Father Sheridan, referencing Franciscan University’s additional 2014 rankings by FORBES and Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine, said he welcomed this external recognition of “our mission to provide an academically excellent and passionately Catholic education,” and noted that the University had kicked off the fall semester with its 14th consecutive year of maximum on-campus enrollment of 2,500 and a student body from all 50 states. “I am grateful to God for blessing the efforts of our faculty and staff to form a generation committed to restoring all things in Christ.”

Last year U.S. News developed a Graduation Rate Performance Indicator that shows how well schools enhance the achievements of students during their time in college. This year, Franciscan University placed in the top 12 percent of all Midwest Universities.

A student/faculty ratio of 14:1 also contributed to the high ranking.

Earlier this week, the National Catholic Register placed Franciscan University among 38 “faithfully Catholic” colleges in its 2014 Catholic Identity Guide. In July 2014, FORBES Magazine named Franciscan University to its list of America’s Top Colleges 2014, which put Franciscan in the top 8 percent of all the 4,500 colleges FORBES considered.