For the third year in a row, the University of Colorado Boulder has been ranked No. 2 in geosciences among the world’s universities, according to U.S. News & World Report, which today released its third annual global standings for 2017.

In the global standings, CU Boulder takes the No. 32 position overall, tying with Boston University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, placing it top among all Colorado institutions. The No. 32 ranking is up from No. 48 for 2016 and No. 58 for 2015.

Among U.S. public institutions that made it onto the global list, CU Boulder ranks No. 11.

“We are pleased to be recognized as global leaders in the field of geosciences,” said Terri Fiez, CU Boulder Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation. “We have an innovative faculty that excels in research and teaching, and attracts some of the best and brightest students from around the nation and world.”

Geosciences, in which CU Boulder trails only the California Institute of Technology, is considered the study of Earth, from its structure to the history of its formation. Studies in the field of geosciences include geology, geophysics, geochemistry, climatology, oceanography and petroleum geology.

CU Boulder also ranks No. 26 among the best global universities in environment/ecology, a field that includes such subjects as environmental health, climate change, and environmental monitoring and management.

U.S. News & World Report’s annual global assessments, comprising 1,000 universities in 65 countries, are based on measurements of academic research performance and global and regional reputations, according to the publication.

Visit the methodology for details on the ranking system.