A new series of independent surveys rank Penn State among the top colleges and universities in the nation -- and this time it's not for booze and barbaric behavior.

Earlier this week, U.S. News and World Report and Kiplinger's each released their rankings of the best academic colleges and universities in the United States, as established by their respective researchers.

Penn State -- as has been the pattern for the last several years -- found itself nestled into the top 100 of each survey.

In U.S. News' comprehensive rankings of the "Best National Universities" in the country for 2003, Penn State's University Park campus rose a spot from last year, tying with the University of California, Irvine for 45th place. Last year, Penn State tied for 46th among public and private universities.

The study by U.S. News was also broken down further to include rankings of the "50 Best Public National Universities." In this category, Penn State placed 12th, once again tying with the University of California, Irvine. Last year, Penn State finished 14th.

Meanwhile, Kiplinger's surveyed more than 500 U.S. public colleges and universities to create their list of the "100 Best Values in Public Colleges."

Penn State was recognized as being the 18th best school with a "reasonable price tag from coast to coast," as stated in the magazine.

The final positions were based on total tuition and fees for 2002-2003 freshmen.

Penn State officials said they were satisfied by the positive placement the university received in both surveys.

"We are very pleased when others recognize our reputation, quality and affordability ... We do appreciate it when publications cite us positively," Penn State President Graham Spanier wrote in an e-mailed statement.

The new rankings come at a time when the university has garnered negative attention, in particular for being labeled a "party school" by several organizations. Earlier this month, The Princeton Review named Penn State the No. 4 party school in the nation, while Bacardi -- a brand of rum -- crowned State College "America's Best Party Town."

The party rankings have drawn strong criticism from university officials.

"Those rankings are not based on any scientifically known research," university spokesman Bill Mahon said. "If you used that kind of research in a class, you'd fail that class."

Ashley Waters (sophomore-elementary education) said the academic rankings balance out the party rankings.

"It's a party school, but people know it's good academically," she said. "Penn State is a good name with a good degree -- and it's fun, too."

Ricky Rullo (sophomore-division of undergraduate studies) agreed the academic rankings were positive, but the party rankings were more "fitting."

"It really puts us on the map," he said.

According to its mission statement, U.S. News combined a number of factors in calculating its rankings, including freshmen retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity and graduation rates.

Kiplinger's took the same basic academic quality criteria as U.S. News, but also factored in financial costs.

Most marketing research conducted by universities shows ranking lists have little to no influence in the college decision-making process for prospective students, said Cynthia Hall, university marketing director.

"I think internally, the rankings become important to alumni and trustee boards," she said. "Meanwhile, current students and prospective students seem to give them little weight."

U.S. News 2003, 45th

U.S. News 2002, 46th

U.S. News 2003, 12th

U.S. News 2002, 14th