By Maggie Downs
Enquirer staff writer

Miami University is the 22nd best public college in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report rankings in the 2005 edition of America's Best Colleges.

That's up from last year's ranking of 25, and is MU's highest placement ever in the annual listing.

The magazine said Miami's emphasis on study-abroad courses and its themed-learning residence halls were "stellar" examples of academic programs.

The magazine ranks universities in 14 categories, including class size, student test scores and a peer assessment.

For the top-schools list, U.S. News & World Report ranked 248 private and public universities.

Miami placed 62nd overall, compared with 64th last year.

Other Ohio schools in the top half were Case Western Reserve (35), Ohio State University (62, tied with Miami), and Ohio University and the University of Dayton (tied at 98).

The magazine ranks Xavier No. 2 among 142 Midwest colleges and universities with master's programs. Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., was No. 1. Xavier tied with Valparaiso University in Indiana for the No. 2 spot.

Last year's issue ranked Xavier sixth in the same category.

The publication recognized XU's 89 percent freshman retention rate and high graduation rate (74 percent).

The College of Mount St. Joseph ranked 31 on the Midwest master's programs list.

The magazine praised the college for its focus on small class size, with a student/faculty ratio of 12 to 1 and a freshman retention rate of 81 percent.

Thomas More College in Crestview Hills placed 22nd in the comprehensive colleges list for bachelor's programs in the South.

The issue hits newsstands Monday.

E-mail mdowns@enquirer.com