DU was ranked 25th in Division I schools and 44th overall, one of only 6 percent of universities to earn a spot in the top 100,  in a recent poll by the National Center for Student Athletics (NCSA).

The poll assesses schools based on their academic standing, balanced with the strength of their athletic programs. NCSA uses the poll to help student athletes choose a school that will provide the right fit in both categories.

“This score can tell you which schools will offer both a great educational experience and also a great athletic experience,” said Rick McDole, NCSA’s head of recruiting operations. “We want students in the process of the college search to know where the best places are as both students and athletes.”

DU’s ranking was created based on the averaging of polling done by other organizations, such as the U.S. News and World Report, which provides academic rankings, and the Learfield Sport Director’s Cup, which evaluates the strength of a university’s’ overall athletic program.

DU received an academic score of 86 out of 100 and an athletic score of 56 out of 100.

These scores were averaged, along with the NCAA student athlete graduation rate, to give DU a power-ranking of 84.66.

However, this is about more than numbers on a page, according to McDole.

“A college placing in the Top 100, like DU, speaks to the type of people and the type of environment on-campus,” said McDole. “It really indicates what kind of experience you can expect, and it shows the school is a great place to spend four or five years.”

McDole said DU’s strong showing in their polling will make it a very attractive pick for students in the future.

“These scores really speak to the overall quality of DU in both its commitment to academics and its commitment to athletics,” he said. “It’s the kind of place students are really excited to spend the next four or five years of their lives.”

He said DU’s strong showing in athletic ranking is a particularly impressive number because it signifies strength in athletic programs overall and not in just one area.

“There are some schools with outstanding football programs or some other program that ranked lower,” said McDole. “The ranking shows the university has a lot of quality student athletes and is competitive across the board instead of in just one area.”

DU takes its place in the poll next to some well-known and widely respected schools.

In the overall rankings, Bates College finished just behind DU at 45.

The University of Virginia finished in 43rd place.

Stanford University placed first amongst Division I schools, a category decided by the size of their budget and the quality of their athletic facilities.

Duke was the overall strongest school in the NCSA ranking.