Kayla S. Samoy

The Republic | azcentral.com

As a University of Arizona grad living in Sun Devil territory, my alma mater has often been a major point of contention among my friends who (unfortunately) went to Arizona State University.

My family has long been UA devotees, though one cousin is attending NAU and another *gasp* has done the unthinkable and enrolled at ASU.

It's made for some fun, friendly family debates about which school is better.

But now I've got some definitive proof that the UA is the best. #beardown

Forbes released a list on Monday of the top colleges in each state. It comes as no surprise to me and many of my fellow Wildcats that the UA nabbed the top spot. Sorry Sun Devils. Your Curtain of Distraction just can't compete.

The article points out just a handful of the UA's stellar qualities:

Its emphasis on giving students real-world experience in their area of study

Its well regarded programs in the physical sciences and health

Its status as the first school in the country to offer an undergraduate degree in law.

Its large collection on the history of modern North American photography.

Its green campus with its own arboretum and biosphere.

Selection critera

The top colleges were chosen using a variety of criteria that include a low amount of student transfers, low student-to-faculty ratio, on-time graduation rates, low amounts of financial debt and acceptance rate.

Overall the UA ranked #200 in the country, while ASU is #292 and NAU is #561.

In its profile of ASU, Forbes noted that it has the highest enrollment of any public university, and that it is noted for its Thunderbird School of Management, calling it "a top global business school."

And one more ASU meme. Because I couldn't resist.

#Beardown Wildcats!