Drake University maintained its overall ranking as third among Midwest master’s universities in the U.S. News Best Colleges 2013 rankings released today by U.S. News & World Report magazine. Additionally, the University’s 2011 acceptance rate of 63 percent made it the second most selective among the top ten universities in its region.

“We strive to be one of the very best institutions of higher education in the United States and are delighted to be recognized for our academic quality,” says Drake University President David Maxwell. “These annual rankings continue to reflect our efforts to provide the exceptional learning environment that we promise our students.”

Among master’s institutions, Drake’s peer-assessed academic quality ranks third of 149 in the Midwest and seventh of 542 in the nation.

In the “Great Schools, Great Prices” Midwest category, Drake placed tenth. This is the 13th consecutive year Drake has been listed in this category.

The rankings also show that the academic profile of students in Drake’s entering class continues to improve. The percentage of entering students in the top 25 percent of their high school class rose to 75 percent, up from 69 percent just four years ago. Drake’s acceptance rate for entering students narrowed to 63 percent, from 78 percent four years ago.

“It is wonderful that we continue to draw such extraordinary students to Drake due to a combination of our academic program and value,” says Drake University Provost Deneese Jones. “The opportunity for students to work collaboratively in small groups and one-on-one with our faculty in research laboratories and studios, and to gain real-world experience through guided internships, is exactly the preparation they need for today’s world”

The University’s student to faculty ratio improved to 12:1, tied for second lowest among the top ten Midwestern universities. More than half (52 percent) of all Drake classes have fewer than 20 students, while only six percent of classes offered at the University contain more than 50 students.