Union University rose to 12th among regional universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report in their annual rankings of colleges and universities.
This is the highest ranking yet for Union, which came in at 13th last year, and the fifth year in a row the university has made the top 15 in its category, according to a Union press release.
U.S. News & World Report categorizes a regional university as one that provides a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s degree programs and a few doctoral programs. For the rankings, regional universities are placed in one of four geographic areas: North, South, Midwest and West, according to their website.
“We are grateful for the recognition by U.S. News & World Report,” said Union University President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver in the press release. “To be viewed by others so positively is a reflection of the incredible faculty and staff who live out their calling as educators to provide the very best educational experience for our students.
“While we are gratified by this best ever ranking for Union, we are also mindful that the reason all of us at Union do what we do is to bring honor and glory to Christ, the one to whom we desire to be faithful.”
Union was also selected as one of 23 “A-Plus Schools for B Students” in the South and tied with James Madison University for the top freshman retention rate of 91 percent, according to the press release.
Union placed between Loyola University New Orleans in Louisiana and Bellarmine University in Kentucky. The university rankings are based on several different factors including class sizes, graduation and retention rates.
