Stony Brook Ranked Among Top Universities in ‘Times Higher Education’ Magazine’s World University Rankings
University is 78th among top 200 universities based on core elements of a university’s mission – research, teaching and knowledge transfer
STONY BROOK, N.Y., September 16, 2010 – Stony Brook University has been cited as the 78th ranked University in the world in the Times Higher Education magazine’s 2010-11 World University Rankings. Stony Brook was ranked 78th among what the magazine calls the top 200 universities worldwide as ranked using “a sophisticated new methodology that constitutes the most detailed, rigorous and comprehensive study of global university performance ever undertaken.”
“We would like to congratulate Stony Brook University for its performance in this year’s rigorous rankings,” said Ann Mroz, editor of Times Higher Education. “Being ranked 78 in the world top 200 is an impressive achievement. The top 200 universities in the world represent only a tiny fraction of world higher education and any institution that makes it into this table is truly world class.”
“This new ranking and methodology speaks to the quality of our faculty and students and the depth of research being conducted at the university,” said Stony Brook University President Samuel L. Stanley, Jr., M.D.
In recent months, Stony Brook has appeared on several college rankings as an excellent academic institution with an affordable price tag and other areas of excellence:
– Stony Brook was ranked among the best Large Public Schools in the August 22, 2010 edition of PARADE Magazine, and has the lowest tuition of any of the top schools listed in the magazine’s “College A-List”.
– U.S. News & World Report ranked Stony Brook among the top 100 national universities in United States in its annual ranking of colleges. Stony Brook was one of only three State University of New York colleges to make the top 100 ranking, and the only Long Island college. Stony Brook also was ranked by U.S. News as among the Top 50 Public National Universities, and its Engineering program was ranked among the best programs at engineering schools whose highest degree is a doctorate.
– Stony Brook graduates were ranked among the highest in the nation when it comes to earnings potential, according to a recent national ranking. According to the PayScale 2010 College Salary Report, the starting median pay for Stony Brook graduates is $49,200 and the mid-career median pay is $90,800.
– And Stony Brook was cited in the Sierra Club’s recent fourth annual Coolest Schools survey. The environmental organization surveyed 900 colleges and universities across the United States, asking them to detail their sustainability efforts. Stony Brook was ranked 104th. The survey looked at energy supply and other factors measuring a school’s commitment to sustainability: efficiency, food, academics, purchasing, transportation, waste management, administration, financial investments and other initiatives.
Phil Baty, editor of Times Higher Education World University Rankings, said of the magazine’s rankings: “Our tables are based on rigorous data provided by Thomson Reuters, and for the first time an invitation-only reputation survey of over 13,000 verified academics was conducted by Ipsos Mori. This ensures that we have very high-quality data, both qualitative and quantitative.
“As global higher education is becoming more competitive than ever, inclusion in this year’s ranking is an impressive achievement for any institution. These rankings are the gold standard for world-class research institutions.”
The 2010-11 Times Higher Education World University Rankings represent a “year zero”, thanks to a new methodology developed after consultation with 50 sector leaders, our editorial board and website feedback. The new methodology, with data supplied by Thomson Reuters, places less importance on reputation and heritage than in previous years and gives more weight to hard measures of excellence in all three core elements of a university’s mission – research, teaching and knowledge transfer. It is also the only global ranking system that includes a section dedicated to the teaching and learning environment – including the first-ever global survey of institutions’ teaching reputation. In all, it includes 13 separate performance indicators, across five broad categories:
• Teaching – the learning environment – 30%
• Citation impact – a normalized measure of research influence – 32.5%
• Research – volume, income and reputation – 30%
• International mix – staff and student ratios – 5%
• Industry income – measuring knowledge transfer – 2.5%
According to the London-based magazine, “since their first appearance in 2004, Times Higher Education’s global university league tables have been recognized as the most authoritative source of broad comparative performance information on universities across the world. As nations focus on establishing world-class universities as essential elements of economic policy, the rankings are increasingly employed as a tool for governments to set national policy. Because of their growing influence and reach, Times Higher Education has undertaken a root-and-branch review of the rankings to improve their rigor, balance, sophistication and transparency.”
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