Baldwin ? Baker University dropped 11 positions in rankings released Thursday by U.S. News and World Report.

Baker was listed 46th, down from 35th, among Midwestern universities whose highest degree offered is a master’s degree.

President Dan Lambert said he wasn’t alarmed by the rankings and said he was pleased to be included in the top tier of the four tiers ranked. There were 72 schools listed in the top tier rankings. The magazine rated 143 Midwestern universities in Baker’s category.

“When you look at the number of schools involved, you’d rather be at 35 than 46,” Lambert said. “But when you’re schools of that quality it doesn’t make much difference.”

Washburn University, in Topeka, was the only other Kansas school ranked on the list. Washburn was 28th.

Lambert said Baker was attempting to improve graduation rates and the quality of its freshman class, which he said should help the university’s ranking.

But he said administrators at the school weren’t preoccupied with ranking systems.

“It is awfully nice to be included,” he said. “I do think at times rankings can be overstated. It’s nice to have the recognition, but none of us see pursuing rankings as a goal.”