SIUC is significantly better than it was last year, according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges Rankings for 2016, released Wednesday.

The university jumped 36 spots in national ranking, moving it to No. 153, in a three-way tie with Adelphi University and St. John’s University in New York. Last year, the university was ranked 189th best in the nation.

When compared to other public institutions, the university ranked 83rd of 117 national colleges and universities.

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SIUC received a composite score of 31, on a scale of 100, based on its 81 percent acceptance rate, 64 percent average freshman retention rate and average high-school counselor rating.

U.S. News & World Report annually assesses more than 1,800 colleges and universities on academic prestige. Colleges and universities across the country are ranked on criteria such as retention, faculty resources and student selectivity.

The ranking system has earned News & World Report’s list a reputation as the go-to guide for college-seeking high school students and their parents. 

Bill Lukitsch can be contacted at [email protected] or on Twitter @Bill_LukitschDE.