Arizona State University ranks nation’s most innovative school for second year
PHOENIX — Arizona State University, take a bow: The school has been ranked the nation’s most innovative school for the second year in a row.
The honor was bestowed by U.S. World News & Report’s latest rankings, which were released Tuesday. The publication had the Sun Devils atop its innovation rankings for the first time last year.
“We do things differently, and we constantly try new approaches,” ASU President Michael Crow told ASU News.
“Our researchers team up with colleagues from disparate fields of expertise. We use technology to enhance the classroom and reach around the world. We partner with cities, nonprofits and corporations to support our advances as the higher education economy evolves. This ranking recognizes the new model we have created.”
ASU was voted the top school in the country through a peer assessment survey completed by college presidents, provosts and admissions deans from around the country.
Earlier this year, ASU was selected as one of the most 100 prestigious universities in the world.
Two years ago, ASU partnered with Starbucks to offer free college education to Starbucks employees attending online classes, one of many new and innovative programs launched by the university, as first reported by ASU News.
The other schools in the top five for innovation were Stanford, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Georgia State University and the University of Maryland – Baltimore County.
Despite ASU’s high ranking for innovation, it came in at No. 129 on U.S. World News & Report’s overall list of the nation’s best schools.
This may dismay Sun Devil fans, as the school’s main rival, the University of Arizona, appeared just above ASU on the list at No. 124.
KTAR’s Sammie Shotzbarger contributed to this report.
