The School of Engineering’s undergraduate program at St. Thomas advanced 47 places in U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of the “Best Colleges,” while the university as a whole remained steady at No. 113 out of 280 schools.

The rankings, released Tuesday, named St. Thomas’ engineering program as No. 34 out of 202 schools that offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees but not doctorates. Last year, the engineering program ranked 81st.

Dean of the School of Engineering Don Weinkauf said the higher rankings will bring the program more recognition and acknowledge St. Thomas’ brand of engineering education.

“If you look at the people in other schools in this grouping, they all have their own distinct brand of engineering, and we have ours and we’re proud,” Weinkauf said. “It’s nice to be recognized as a top program.”

Provost Richard Plumb agreed that the new ranking will bring positive recognition to the university.

“It’s more a confirmation that what we’re doing in the School of Engineering is on track, and it’s being recognized for the quality of the program and the graduates that come out of it,” Plumb said.

Plumb credited the program’s success to its commitment to a quality student-centered education.

Sophomore engineering student Tony Kuplic said U.S. News and World Report’s recognition confirms the program’s excellence.

“I think it’s a testament to the good professors we have,” Kuplic said. “It confirms to people outside of (St. Thomas) what we’ve been experiencing inside the classroom.”

Plumb agreed the new ranking demonstrates other universities’ recognition of the quality program at St. Thomas.

“It’s an acknowledgement that people are hearing about St. Thomas, and that is good. This is an indication that people on the outside recognize what we know on the inside,” Plumb said.