U.S. News and World Report's 1998 best national universities ranking placed Nashville's Vanderbilt University in the top 20. Additionally, Lipscomb University was cited in the top ten liberal arts schools in the South.
Graduate education remains one of Nashville's best assets.
Nashville has been added to the top 30 TV markets in the country, rising faster on the list than any large media market in the past year. Inside E.D., a publication of the American Economic Development Council, cited Nashville as one of five cities that successfully implemented fast-track permitting for business at both the state and local level. Nissan Motor Manufacturing Corp., in the Nashville area was rated the nation's most efficient auto and truck factory by Harbour and Associates. Saturn Corp.'s Nashville region plant produced the highest rated American vehicles in 1998 according to J.D. Power. Job growth in the Nashville area has occurred at the fastest rate in 3 years during the past twelve months.