Two Alabama Baptist universities found a spot in U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 rankings of Best Colleges released Aug. 17.
Samford University in Birmingham is ranked in the top tier of national universities. Samford rose 12 spots from last year to 104th. It shares that spot with Florida State University in Tallahassee, Howard University in Washington, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the University of New Hampshire in Durham and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
Samford compared favorably with the other Alabama universities classified as national universities. The University of Alabama (tied for 79th) and Auburn University (85th) rank ahead of Samford, while the University of Alabama at Birmingham (151st) and the University of Alabama in Huntsville (179th) come in lower. Baylor University in Waco, Texas, (tied for 76th) is the only other Baptist institution in the classification.
Samford also was ranked as one of the top 20 national universities for graduates with the least debt at graduation.
“While these rankings are only one measure of a university’s success, it is obvious that Samford’s growing national reputation is being recognized both by our peer institutions and by those who choose to rank the nation’s top universities,” President Andrew Westmoreland said. “The latest rankings also reflect the hard work of our faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends to achieve the highest quality academic standards while maintaining Samford’s unique Christian mission.”
The University of Mobile (UMobile) is ranked 59th in the top tier of the best regional universities in the South. It tied with Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega and Saint Leo University in Florida.
UMobile President Mark Foley said, “I am grateful that the efforts the University of Mobile is making to achieve our objectives and high standards in the integration of faith and learning have resulted in this recognition. We take this as an affirmation of the distinctives of the University of Mobile experience in the lives of our students.”
Other Alabama universities ranked in this category are Spring Hill College in Mobile (17th), the University of Montevallo (tied for 40th), the University of South Alabama in Mobile (52nd), Troy University (65th), the University of North Alabama in Florence (tied for 66th), Auburn University at Montgomery (tied for 74th) and Jacksonville State University (tied for 83rd). UMobile was one of several Baptist institutions ranked in this category.
The magazine’s annual college rankings are based on classifications established by The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. More than 1,400 higher education institutions then are grouped in four categories: national universities, national liberal arts colleges, regional universities and regional colleges. Schools in the universities-master’s and baccalaureate categories are ranked in four geographic regions.
For more information, visit www.usnews.com and click on the Education tab. (SU, TAB)
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