As the class of 2011 entered the residence halls of Binghamton University last week, boasting some of the best credentials the University has ever seen, U.S. News and World Report named BU as one of the top institutions in the country.

The latest version of ‘America’s Best Colleges’ hit newsstands Aug. 20 and named BU No. 37 among public universities and colleges. The University was also named No. 82 among both public and private universities throughout the country.

The magazine bases its rankings on a system of 15 factors, including academic reputation, the ratio of students to faculty, student selectivity and alumni relations. According to faculty members, future students often look to such rating guides during the application process.

‘Prospective students and their families many times use these [guides] as a starting point for their college search or to compare colleges as they narrow their choices,’ said Assistant Dean of Harpur College Janice McDonald. ‘We have outstanding retention and graduation rates, and a range of opportunities for students.’

Reinforcing BU’s position on such national guides, including Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges and the Princeton Review, this year’s freshman class was said to be the most competitive BU has ever seen.

The University received its highest number of applications ‘ approximately 28,000 ‘ last year. Freshman applications increased by 10 percent and transfer applications by 3 percent.

So many applications were received that admissions made the decision to stop accepting them two weeks earlier than planned.

Of the 25,000 freshman applications received, less than 40 percent were accepted. This acceptance rate qualifies BU as one of the top 10 most selective public colleges in the country, according to Cheryl Brown, director of undergraduate admissions.

The majority of undergraduates at BU, including the class of 2011, meet the highest level of selectivity within the SUNY system, which is defined by a student’s high school grade point average and SAT scores.

‘Having many applications to choose from ensures that the very top students will be admitted to Binghamton,’ Brown said in an e-mail. ‘The quality of student who enrolls here enriches the academic experience for all of us ‘ faculty, staff and other students.’

In addition to BU’s growing popularity as an undergraduate school, the Graduate School has also experienced a surge in popularity of 11 percent over the last year. Almost 20 percent of those applicants came from BU students, reinforcing the success students achieve at BU.