Several Arkansas schools have made the latest "Best Colleges" list compiled each year by U.S. News and World Report magazine.

The University of Arkansas is ranked in the top tier of national universities in the 2010 edition of America’s Best Colleges, the annual consumer survey prepared by U.S. News and World Report.

“This is the third consecutive year that the University of Arkansas has been ranked among the best universities in the country, which is a sign of our consistent improvement,” said Chancellor G. David Gearhart. “The U.S. News and World Report survey is a helpful consumer resource for parents and students who are trying to decide which university is the best fit for them. Beyond that it helps provide the university with a sense of our progress, as well as letting us know we must continue to improve if we want to stay competitive with the best institutions in higher education.”

U.S. News and World Report surveyed 1,347 colleges and universities to compile its rankings. The “national universities” classification refers to institutions that offer a broad range of undergraduate programs, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees.

Batesville's Lyon College made the “top tier” of national liberal arts colleges. This is the third year in a row that Lyon has made the top tier of the magazine’s national rankings.

Lyon also is ranked 15th on the list of 40 “best values” among the 266 “Best Liberal Arts Colleges” in the nation. Lyon is again the only college in Arkansas and one of only seven in the South on U.S. News’ list of “Great Schools, Great Prices.”

“We are always pleased when outside organizations confirm what we already know,” said Lyon President Dr. Donald Weatherman. “Lyon’s continued climb in the rankings among national liberal arts colleges is a pleasure to observe but no surprise. It is a real credit to our faculty and staff that we continue to be listed among the top colleges in the nation and in the category of ‘Great Schools, Great Prices.’ We do indeed continue to be one of the best educational values in higher education in America.”

U.S. News categorizes more than 1,400 accredited schools by mission and – for regional institutions -- by region. According to U.S. News, the 266 national liberal arts colleges “emphasize undergraduate education and award at least half their degrees in the arts and sciences.” In Arkansas, only Lyon and Hendrix College are included in this category.  

The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the U of A was again ranked among the top 50 business programs, ranked 42nd overall, up from 43rd in 2008. Walton College is again tied for 24th place among public business schools.

Other Arkansas schools making the "Best Colleges" list include:

Best Colleges:Top Public Schools: Master's Universities (South)
University of Central Arkansas (Conway)

Best Colleges:Best Values: Master's Universities (South)
Harding University (Searcy)

Best Colleges: Best Values: Baccalaureate Colleges (South)
Ouachita Baptist University (Arkadelphia)
University of the Ozarks (Clarksville)
John Brown University (Siloam Springs)

Click here to read more about the "Best Colleges" report.

America’s Best Colleges bases its rankings on seven categories, each given a different weight toward the final ranking. The “peer assessment” category accounts for 25-percent of an institution’s score, and is the result of surveys turned in by 2,051 college and university administrators. The other categories considered are based primarily on information provided by the institutions: retention rates (20-percent), faculty resources (20-percent), student selectivity (15-percent), financial resources (10-percent), graduation rates (5-percent) and alumni giving (5-percent).