The University of Virginia is a top choice for women seeking engineering and computer science degrees, as confirmed in the newest rankings of U.S. colleges and universities posted Sunday byThe Chronicle of Higher Education. UVA ranks third among all public universities for its percentage of women earning undergraduate engineering degrees, and first among public schools that awarded at least 75 engineering diplomas. At UVA Engineering, 33 percent of undergraduate students are women this year, compared to the national average of 21 percent reported by the National Center for Education Statistics. UVA ranks sixth for its percentage of women earning bachelor's degrees in computer science – 29.5 percent, compared to the national average of 18 percent. “We are proud to help lead the nation in preparing exceptional engineers and computer scientists who will bring their diverse talents, skills and experiences to bear on the world's most complex challenges,†UVA Engineering Dean Craig H. Benson said. “One of our core values is that diversity is excellence, so we keep striving to ensure that women and other groups traditionally underrepresented in engineering and computer science are fully engaged.â€