The University of Oregon is the best higher education institute in the state, according to a new ranking by the website Niche.

The UO topped Lewis & Clark College and Willamette University on the list of Oregon’s best universities, with Oregon State coming in fourth. The university received high marks for campus quality, diversity, the local area, academics and athletics.

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Roger Thompson, the UO’s vice president for enrollment management, said it’s good to see another ranking that considers the UO the best in the state.

“Many families follow the U.S. News rankings, which also have the University of Oregon ranked as the best institution in the state — and among the best in the country — but this new ranking evaluates the UO on different criteria,” he said. “We are pleased that regardless of which ranking system or criteria, the University of Oregon remains one of America’s premier institutions and the highest ranked in the state of Oregon.”

Niche helps people choose schools and neighborhoods by combining a large network of local reviewers with information from public and government data sets. The Pittsburgh-based company is one of most prominent of a new wave of what are known as “data explainer” websites.

According to Niche, a high ranking “indicates that the college is an elite academic institution that attracts a diverse set of high-achieving students and faculty, the college is affordable, and the students are very happy with their college experience.”