Miami University and Xavier University were U.S. News & World Report’s highest-ranking local public and private universities, respectively, in the annual “America’s Best Colleges 2009” listing.

Miami ranked 66th of 262 among “National Universities,” and 26th of 164 among “Public Universities” in the lists compiled by the news magazine. National Universities are defined as colleges which offer a full range of degrees from bachelor’s through doctorate, and conduct research.

Xavier ranked second of 141 in the Midwest master’s level listing, behind Nebraska’s Creighton University. The Catholic liberal arts school has been in the top 10 on this listing for 14 consecutive years, according to a release from Xavier.

The College of Mount St. Joseph ranked 51st on that listing, and Wilmington College was 23rd in the Midwest Baccalaureate Colleges listing.

Case Western Reserve University was the highest-ranking Ohio school in the National Universities listing, at 41, and Ohio State University ranked at 56. In the Liberal Arts Colleges category, Oberlin College was the highest-ranking Ohio school at 20, followed by Kenyon College at 32.

The University of Cincinnati was listed among the “Tier 3” schools in the National Universities listing, but wasn’t ranked.

U.S. News used data supplied by the schools, as well as peer reviews for its rankings, which take into account categories like students retention, financial resources available to students, faculty resources, selectivity and graduation rates.