John Brown University was recently evaluated by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Learning framework and has been moved to the Master’s Colleges & Universities with Medium Programs category. JBU was previously in the Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields category, a classification the institution held since 2010.

The Carnegie Classification system evaluates all higher education institutions every five years based on five criteria: university size and setting, undergraduate and graduate instructional programs, enrollment profile, undergraduate profile and the basic Carnegie Classification framework.

“We’re proud of the progress and growth that this new classification represents for our institution,” said Dr. Ed Ericson, vice president of academic affairs. “JBU’s increase in enrollment, retention and graduation rates reflects the hard work the university has done to provide an excellent, affordable education to our students.”

Additionally, U.S. News & World Report uses the Carnegie Classification data in tandem with its own composite academic excellence score to annually rank institutions against their peers. This change in JBU’s Carnegie Classification will advance the university from the Regional Colleges in the South category, where JBU has consistently ranked first or second since 2010, to the Regional Universities in the South category.

JBU’s new peer institutions include Loyola University, Belmont University and Elon University.

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education has studied institutional diversity and differences in the U.S. higher education since 1973. According to the Carnegie website, this system ensures an accurate representation of higher education institutions, students and employees in the U.S. based on empirical data.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Ranked No. 2 among Southern regional colleges by U.S. News, JBU enrolls more than 2,700 students from 42 states and 39 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, degree completion and concurrent education programs. JBU offers more than 50 majors, with top programs including business administration, graphic design, engineering, construction management, counseling, teacher education and nursing.