U.S. News & World Report released its 2012 best colleges rankings Sept. 13, and two Alabama Baptist universities made the cut.
Samford University in Birmingham continues a decadeslong tradition of being ranked in the top tier of its peer group. Samford is ranked fourth among universities in the South. Spring Hill College in Mobile is tied with Converse College in Spartanburg, S.C., at No. 17 on that list, while the University of Montevallo is tied with two other schools at No. 36 and the University of North Alabama in Florence is tied with two other schools at No. 56. Troy University is in a five-way tie for the 63rd spot. Jacksonville State University is tied with three other schools for the No. 85 spot, just ahead of Auburn University at Montgomery and the University of West Alabama in Livingston at No. 89 with five other schools.
Samford continues to be the highest ranked private institution in Alabama and is ranked very high among its Southern Conference peers. Only Elon University in North Carolina is higher, ranking second in the same category as Samford.
The University of Mobile (UMobile), along with two other schools, is ranked 30th among colleges in the South. Also on that list are Tuskegee University at No. 17; Huntingdon College in Montgomery at No. 21 with Brescia University in Owensboro, Ky.; Faulkner University in Montgomery at No. 49 with two other schools; and Oakwood University in Huntsville at No. 65 with four other schools.
“We appreciate the recognition by U.S. News & World Report in best Regional Colleges (South),” UMobile spokeswoman Kathy Dean said. “College rankings such as this one are simply one of many tools prospective students have to help make the very personal decision about what school is the best fit for their college experience. Among other indicators are student satisfaction as evidenced by rising enrollment and residence halls filled to capacity, which the University of Mobile continues to experience.”
The rankings are based on the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching classifications and assess such criteria as academic reputation, graduation and retention rates, class size, faculty/student ratio and alumni giving, according to Sarah C. Latham, Samford’s vice president for operations and planning.
Peer assessments from presidents, provosts and chief admission officers of institutions in the same classification also account for 25 percent of the overall score for each institution. “It always is meaningful to be so highly regarded by your peers, and this very high ranking affirms the strong academic reputation that Samford University has developed over the decades,” Samford President Andrew Westmoreland said.
In addition to its high ranking among peer institutions in the South, Samford’s overall score ranks it among the top 10 regional universities nationally. Samford also is ranked sixth among regional universities in the South on the Great Schools, Great Price list.
According to U.S. News officials, only schools ranked at or near the top of their categories are included in this list because U.S. News considers the most significant values to be among colleges that are above average academically.
In addition, Samford is one of 19 universities in the South to be named an A-Plus School for B Students. Institutions on the list admitted a “meaningful proportion of applicants whose test scores and class standing put them in non-A territory but who have a decent shot at being accepted and thriving,” according to U.S. News officials.
For more information, visit http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges. (SU, TAB)
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