The university is No. 20 on the list, its highest ranking and seventh consecutive year the school has been in the top 25.

“To be ranked among the nation’s top public universities is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff, students and trustees and the support of our alumni, donors, friends and volunteers,” said Clemson President James P. Clements.

“I congratulate the entire Clemson family on this well-deserved recognition, especially President Emeritus Jim Barker, who started us on this path 15 years ago.”

Barker hailed the good news. “The goal has always been about making Clemson a better university and increasing the value of a Clemson degree,” he said. “We knew that if we focused on our students, the rankings would take care of themselves. The credit for this recognition belongs to the students, faculty, staff, alumni and the board of trustees of Clemson University.”

Additionally, Clemson ranks eighth among “up-and-coming schools” that have made “the most promising and innovative changes in academics, faculty, students, campus or facilities.”

The university also is recognized for “writing in the disciplines.” This recognition highlights outstanding academic programs commonly linked to student success. Clemson consistently receives recognition for making writing a priority at all levels of instruction and across the curriculum. Clemson is identified as one of 11 colleges and universities in the nation that make writing a priority across all disciplines.

Among national public universities, Clemson is 31st in best undergraduate engineering programs and 50th in best undergraduate business programs.

“It’s significant to be recognized as one of the nation’s top 20 universities,” said Robert Barkley, director of undergraduate admissions at Clemson. “This academic ranking, along with the quality of the Clemson experience in and out of the classroom, are reasons that interest in Clemson is at an all-time high among students throughout South Carolina, and around the nation.”