MAGAZINE LISTS SEMO AMONG BEST IN MIDWEST

Southeast Missouri State University has been ranked as one of America's "best colleges" by U.S. News and World Report.

Southeast was listed in the second quartile of Midwestern colleges and universities in the magazine's latest guide of "America's Best Colleges."

The school is the only Missouri regional university or state college to be listed in the quartile. Only Northeast Missouri State University at Kirksville, with its more selective admission policy, received a higher rating, Southeast officials said Friday. Northeast was ranked in the first quartile.

Southeast was listed ahead of Central Missouri State University and Southwest Missouri State University, both in the third quartile; and Missouri Southern State College, Missouri Western State College and Northwest Missouri State University, all in the fourth quartile.

The University of Missouri's Columbia and Rolla campuses were listed in the second quartile of national universities. The University of Missouri-Kansas City was listed in the third quartile, while the St. Louis campus was listed in the fourth quartile of national universities.

The magazine's college guide lists 1,373 four-year schools. They include 204 national universities, 140 national liberal arts colleges, 558 regional colleges and universities, 384 regional liberal arts colleges and 87 specialized institutions, such as the five service academies.

Institutions with 200 or fewer students were excluded.

"We are extremely pleased to be included in this prestigious ranking," said Kala Stroup, president of Southeast. "The ranking indicates that Southeast's reputation for academic excellence is growing. The listing also is a reflection of our faculty's hard work in preparing students for today's work force."

Southeast's ranking is based largely on a survey in which 2,527 college presidents, deans and admissions directors responded. The survey is designed to measure academic reputation of colleges and universities. The ratings also are based on several other factors, including the average ACT or SAT score of entering freshmen, percentage of freshmen in the top 25 percent of their high school class, acceptance rate, student-faculty ratio and funding per student.

According to the report, Southeast's average ACT score is 22, the same as that of Southwest Missouri State University and higher than the average scores at Central Missouri State University, Missouri Southern State College, Northwest Missouri State University and Missouri Western State College.

Southeast's average ACT score also is higher than the average score of nearly all Ohio Valley Conference schools listed in the survey, university officials said. Only Murray (Ky.) State University ranked in the first quartile of best southern colleges and universities also reported a 22 ACT score.

According to the ranking, 39 percent of Southeast freshmen were ranked in the top 25 percent of their high school class. The report also shows that Southeast's student-faculty ratio is 17-to-1. The report lists the cost of educating a Southeast student at $5,552. That figure takes into account the school's fiscal 1991 spending on instruction, student services, administration and academic support including computers and library services.