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The University of Maryland - Baltimore County and George Mason University are leading the list of the country's most up-and-coming schools, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Last year, UMBC was in the top five and the university's president says he's honored they are now ranked number 1.

"It's great to be called number one. It's even more significant just to be seen as one of the best in the country in educating young people," said Freeman Hrabowski, UMBC President.

Hrabowski credits his teaching staff with putting UMBC out front. "We were number four, tied with Stanford, in undergraduate teaching and that fits well with our being number one overall among up and coming."

Rising senior Matt Kessler-Cleary says his professors teach out of passion, not just because it's their profession. "Professors on this campus aren't going to turn you away as a student."

Last year, George Mason University topped the up-and-coming list. This year, the university holds no hard feelings about taking second place.

"I'm sure there's a fine line between one and two and we're happy for UMBC and it's something we feel is a real pat on the back for all of us," said Daniel Walsch, GMU spokesperson.

"It's great to have great higher education on both sides of D.C. It's wonderful," said Hrabowski.

Students from both schools agree. "I'm proud of it. This campus has come a long way since I've been here," said GMU 4th year student Paul Cassens.

"Usually UMBC is seen as a stepping stone to go onto bigger institutions, but it's great to hear that UMBC is one of those great institutions that other people want to come to," said UMBC graduate student Mileidy Gonzalez.

To find the most 'up-and-coming' school in the country, U.S. News & World Report asked college administrators to submit names of institutions they believed were making innovative changes and academic improvements. Schools were ranked in order of the number of votes they received.

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