U.S. News declared John Brown University the top regional college in the South this week, as well as a Best Value and “up-and-comer” university.
Tying for first place with High Point University (N.C.) and Asbury University (Ky.), John Brown surpassed the other 98 southern regional colleges U.S. News evaluated. Rankings were decided by freshmen retention rates, peer assessments, student to faculty ratios, graduation rates, ACT/SAT scores, class sizes, alumni giving rates and acceptance rates.
U.S. News separates colleges into the categories of national university rankings, national liberal arts college rankings and regional university rankings. The magazine grouped John Brown in the Southern Regional section.
“These colleges focus on undergraduate education but grant fewer than half their degrees in liberal arts disciplines,” reported the U.S. News website.
The University has placed in the top three colleges for the past five years. This is JBU’s second time to rank first in U.S. News’ survey.
“U.S. News is the most highly recognized and sought after college rating,” Vice President for Enrollment Don Crandall said in a press release. “JBU’s continually high ranking really supports the narrative to prospective students that JBU has consistent quality in our educational programs.”
JBU also placed third among the southern regional colleges listed as 2015 Up-and-Comer universities.
“College presidents, provosts and admissions deans were asked to nominate up to 10 colleges in their U.S. News Best Colleges ranking category ‘that are making improvements in academics, faculty, students, campus life, diversity and facilities,’ ” U.S. News announced on its website. “These schools are worth watching because they are making promising and innovative changes.”
“We’ve rolled out a lot of initiatives in the last few years, from expanded online classes to our new bachelors of science in nursing degree,” Vice President of Academic Affairs Ed Ericson said in a press release. “I appreciate the spirit of entrepreneurship of our faculty as we actively work to find new solutions to the challenges facing the rapidly changing world of higher education.”
President Chip Pollard said while the rankings are flattering, they do not define the University.
“We are so grateful at JBU to have excellent faculty and staff who deliver quality education to committed students,” Pollard said. “Being recognized by U.S. News is gratifying, bur our real rewards come when we see our graduates out in the world honoring God with service to others.”
For more information on the survey, go to www.usnews.com/collegemeth.