The University of Oregon jumped four places in the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings for best national universities, breaking into the top 100 for the first time since the UO began tracking its placement.

In the new rankings, which were released Monday, Sept. 13, the UO also moved up four spots within the top 50 of public universities.

For 2022, the UO is ranked number 99 among national universities, tied with University of Colorado at Boulder, the University of Utah, and Auburn University. The UO is tied with the same schools at number 42 among publics.

Strength in graduation rate performance and faculty and financial resources accounted for the improvement.

“We have invested significantly in student success over the last five years, and we are seeing the results reflected in the achievements of our current students and graduates,” UO President Michael H. Schill said. “I am proud of the efforts of our faculty and staff and am very pleased that these efforts are being recognized.”

The UO also increased its rankings in undergraduate fields, scored by academics and officials familiar with the programs.

The Lundquist College of Business, traditionally strong in the U.S. News ratings, climbed three places to number 41overall and number 26 among public business schools.

The UO jumped 10 places to number 58 as one of the best schools for veterans, based on schools that take advantage of the Yellow Ribbon financial aid benefits available to veterans and active service members.

This is the second year that U.S. News included the best schools for computer science. The UO improved five places to number 82 among 538 schools that qualified for the ranking.

The new top 100 ranking is a positive step because it puts the UO into a new bracket for prospective students and their families, said Roger Thompson, vice president for student services and enrollment management.

“Schools rarely move many places from year to year, and this will garner the attention of prospective students, families and high school counselors,” Thompson said. “It demonstrates what students and families have known all along, that the University of Oregon is one of the top schools in the country. College is a significant investment for students and families, and an assurance with top rankings only helps articulate the value of an education from the University of Oregon.”