U.S. NEWS RANKS UNION IN TOP TIER OF SOUTHERN LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES
Jackson, Tenn. — Â鶹ÊÓƵ University has been ranked again in the top tier of Southern regional liberal arts colleges by U.S. News & World Report. The 1998 rankings will appear in the Aug. 25 issue of the weekly news magazine, and are now available in abbreviated form on the publication's web site ().
Among comparable institutions in West Tennessee, Â鶹ÊÓƵ is the only university ranked in the top tier, according to the U.S. News listings. Rankings are based on a variety of criteria, including reputation, retention, graduation rate, student-faculty ratio and ACT/SAT scores of entering students.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ was also the only West Tennessee university to be recognized for operating efficiently. U.S. News ranked Â鶹ÊÓƵ third among all regional liberal arts colleges because of Â鶹ÊÓƵ's ability to provide a quality education while spending relatively less.
"We are delighted to again receive this affirmation of the outstanding education available at Â鶹ÊÓƵ University," explains President David S. Dockery. "The 1998 rankings demonstrate that Â鶹ÊÓƵ continues to provide a level of academic excellence that is ranked among the top schools in our region by objective criteria such as those used by U.S. News."
According to Carroll Griffin, Director of Admissions, elements such as Â鶹ÊÓƵ's high retention and graduate rates, low 13:1 student-faculty ratio and high ACT scores of the entering class contributed to Â鶹ÊÓƵ's top ranking.
Other Tennessee institutions ranked in the top tier of Southern regional liberal arts colleges include Bryan College, Carson-Newman College, David Lipscomb University, King College, Maryville College and Milligan College. All top tier institutions except Â鶹ÊÓƵ are located in east or middle Tennessee.
Previously, Â鶹ÊÓƵ has been recognized in Peterson's Competitive Colleges in 1996-1997. Last spring, Â鶹ÊÓƵ was named one of the 100 best college buys in the United States by a new publication that rates America's colleges and universities. The Student Guide to America's 100 Best College Buys profiled the schools that are the highest rated academically but have the lowest total cost for the college years. This recognition ranked Â鶹ÊÓƵ with all schools across the nation including the University of Kentucky, University of Mississippi, Louisiana State, Rutgers University, Samford University, Baylor University, Clemson, Texas A&M and Auburn.