For undergraduates looking for the top program in engineering physics, Cornell is the best place to go, according to U.S. News and World Report. In its annual university and college rankings issue, the magazine has given the Cornell program top billing for the third year in a row in the category Engineering Science/Engineering Physics under Specialties for Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs.

In overall rankings for best national colleges and universities, Cornell took the 12th spot, tied with Washington University in St. Louis -- the same ranking as last year.

Highlights of the magazine's 2008 rankings will be in the Aug. 27 issue, available at newsstands beginning Aug. 20. That same day, the magazine's annual America's Best Colleges guidebook also will go on sale.

The College of Engineering also fared well in overall rankings, winning seventh place (tied with University of Michigan in Ann Arbor) for Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs at schools whose highest degree is a doctorate, up from 10th place last year. Agricultural engineering at Cornell was ranked third this year, up from the fourth spot in 2007.

For the third straight year, Cornell was ranked fourth in Economic Diversity for national universities, measured by percentages of undergraduate students receiving Pell Grants. Among national universities in the category Great Schools, Great Prices, Cornell was ranked 19th, down from 14th in 2007.

Under two categories of Programs to Look For, Cornell was also mentioned for Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects, as well as Writing in the Disciplines.

For Best Undergraduate Business Programs, Cornell was ranked 12th this year, tied with five other schools, and down from the 11th spot last year. Business program rankings were based on peer assessments of Cornell's Department of Applied Economics and Management in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

For more information, visit http://www.usnews.com.