Remains Top-Ranked Arkansas School in Regional University Category
In the 2019 U.S. News & World Report Best Regional Universities ranking, released today, John Brown University ranked 13th out of 141 southern universities, advancing four places from last year. This marks the third consecutive year JBU is the top-ranked Arkansas school in its cohort, which includes Harding University, Arkansas State University, University of Central Arkansas, Henderson State University, Arkansas Tech University and Southern Arkansas University.
“For JBU to continually be the top-ranked Arkansas school among its peers attests to the caliber of JBU’s faculty, staff and students,” said Dr. Chip Pollard, JBU president. “The U.S News rankings reflects our ongoing commitment to providing a rigorous Christian higher education.”
U.S. News & World Report is widely recognized as a leader in higher education rankings and a key resource for a student’s college search. To determine its rankings, U.S. News evaluates graduation and student retention rates, class size, student-to-faculty ratio, SAT and ACT scores, alumni giving rate and peer assessment.
This year, JBU’s graduation rate rose by 12.31 percent to 73 percent of students in the 2011 cohort graduating in 6 years or less. This is the highest graduation rate in university’s history.
“Recognition from U.S. News affirms the work JBU’s faculty and staff does every day to cultivate in our students a developed servant heart, a nourished spiritual life and an excellent academic experience,” said Ed Ericson, vice president for academic affairs & dean of the faculty. “Our students are graduating with not just a degree but with the tools that will equip them for life.”
U.S. News also recognized JBU as “Best Value School,” “A+ Schools for B Students,” “Most Innovative Schools,” “Best Undergraduate Teaching” and a top-10 “Best Colleges for Veterans” institution in its category.
JBU was also recognized among the top third of all U.S. schools in the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education U.S. College rankings, released Sept. 5. Placing 356th out of 968 institutions ranked by the study, JBU was the second highest Arkansas school and was 78th out of 286 institutions in the South.
The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings are based on 15 key indicators that assess colleges in four areas: outcomes, resources, engagement and environment. For more information on the methodology, visit www.timeshighereducation.com.
For more information on U.S. News’ ranking methodology, visit www.usnews.com/collegemeth.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News Best Colleges, 2019), JBU enrolls more than 2,100 students from 38 states and 53 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers 41 majors, with top programs including engineering, nursing, family and human services, biology, graphic design and construction management.