Vaughn College has once again been ranked among the top regional colleges in the North.

In rankings released earlier this week, U.S. News & World Report placed the College 25th in its 2011 survey of the best regional colleges from Maine to Maryland. The College was ranked 36th in U.S. News’ 2010 survey.

“It’s an honor to once again be recognized by U.S. News as a top regional college,” President Dr. John Fitzpatrick said. “It demonstrates Vaughn’s commitment to delivering a high-quality and personal educational experience to all of our students. This recognition is also reflected in our 50 percent increase in enrollment in the past three years and the perceived value of a Vaughn College degree. Ultimately, the greatest beneficiaries of this recognition are our students and faculty.”

Vaughn received high marks for its freshman retention rate, student-faculty ratio, class size and entrance exam scores. Vaughn also was cited for the diversity of its student body, placing second among regional colleges in the North behind only City College (CUNY). It was the second consecutive year Vaughn placed second in the diversity category.

“The cultural and ethnic diversity of our student body adds significantly to the Vaughn College experience,” Fitzpatrick said. Vaughn is also a federally designated Hispanic-serving institution with a self-identifying Hispanic population of more than 35 percent.

U.S. News & World Report began its annual rankings of American colleges and universities in 1983. As in years past, it used more than a dozen indicators to score its 2011 choices, including undergraduate academic reputation, faculty resources, student selectivity, graduation rates, freshman retention rates and alumni giving. Rankings were based on a weighted evaluation of all categories.

In Vaughn’s North category were more than 70 regional colleges, defined as those schools that concentrate on undergraduate education and award fewer than half their degrees in liberal arts. Among the schools in Vaughn’s group were the United States Coast Guard Academy and Cooper Union.

See the entire U.S. News & World Report 2011 survey at www.usnews.com/colleges.