CARBONDALE - Associate Chancellor Seymour L. Bryson of Southern Illinois University Carbondale had reason to smile Wednesday.

The magazine "Diverse: Issues in Higher Education" contained its Top 100 colleges and universities in awarding minority undergraduate degrees in an issue released this month. SIUC again scored well.

"For the last decade, we've always been recognized annually. But this is the first time we've been ranked in so many categories," said Bryson, whose focus is on diversity at SIUC.

According to the Diverse rankings, SIUC is 24th among traditionally white institutions for total bachelor degrees awarded to African-American students. In 2007, SIUC was 27th in this category.

Among all institutions, including historically black colleges and universities, SIUC ranks 38th, compared to 42nd a year ago.

Diverse's Top 100 is a national analysis using the most recent numbers available from the U.S. Department of Education. The current rankings, the 17th annual, are based on the 2006-07 academic year.

"This is one of the leading publications of its kind. It has a much broader base now than in the past when it was concentrated specifically on African-American students. Now there is more of a minority focus. It's more profound and broader," Bryson said about Diverse.

SIUC ranks second overall in education degrees awarded to African-American students. The university has ranked among the top five universities in the country in this category since 1997. In addition, SIUC is second in education degrees earned by all minority students.

The university ranks 17th for education degrees awarded to Asian-American students, 19th for Hispanic and 48th for Native American students.

The university is 28th among traditionally white institutions for the number of degrees awarded to African-American students in health professions and related clinical sciences, and 40th in total minority health professions and related clinical sciences degrees.

SIUC ranks 35th among all universities for the number of degrees awarded to African-American students in English language and literature/letters. And, the university logged in at 100th in the rankings on total minority degrees awarded.

The Top 100 rankings within the various categories are in the June 12 edition of the magazine or online at www.diverseeducation.com.

scott.fitzgerald@thesouthern.com

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