U.S. News Ranks JBU No. 1!

 

 John Brown University is the top college in the South, according to rankings to be published in the 2015 U.S. News Best Colleges Guide. The magazine also named JBU a Best Value and called JBU an “up-and-comer” university.

“We are so grateful at JBU to have excellent faculty and staff who deliver quality education to committed students,” said Dr. Chip Pollard, JBU president. “Being recognized by U.S. News is gratifying, but our real rewards come when we see our graduates out in the world honoring God with service to others.”

John Brown University tied for first place with Asbury University (Ky.) and High Point University (N.C.), topping the 98 southern regional colleges evaluated by U.S. News. Factors that are weighed in the ranking include peer assessment, freshman retention, graduation rate, class size, student-faculty ratio, ACT/SAT scores, acceptance rate and alumni giving rate.

This is the fifth year in a row U.S. News has ranked JBU a top-three college, and the second time JBU has landed the top spot.

“U.S. News is the most highly-recognized and sought after college rating,” said Don Crandall, vice president for enrollment management. “JBU’s continually high ranking really supports the narrative to prospective students that JBU has consistent quality in our educational programs.”

In addition, for the third year in a row, JBU was named a Best Value among Southern regional colleges. U.S. News determines best value by comparing the school’s academic quality to the cost of attending while considering the financial aid available.

“Making quality Christian higher education accessible to students regardless of economic stature is a priority for us,” said Dr. Jim Krall, vice president for university advancement. “We are blessed to have so many supporters of JBU contribute financially to our annual fund and to our endowment to provide assistance for students with financial need.”

JBU was also named a 2015 Up-and-Comer, one of four southern regional colleges chosen by its peers as an institution that has “made the most promising and innovative changes in the areas of academics, faculty, student life, campus or facilities.” College presidents, provosts and admissions deans were asked by U.S. News to nominate schools for this honor.

“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,” said Dr. Ed Ericson, vice president for academic affairs. “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.”

Find out more about U.S. News’ ranking methodology online at www.usnews.com/collegemeth.

John Brown University is a private Christian university, ranked No. 1 overall and a Best Value among Southern regional colleges by U.S. News. JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 42 states and 44 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, degree completion and concurrent education programs. JBU is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and a founding member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.