For the fourth consecutive year, Jacksonville University was recognized among the top 25 percent of regional universities on U.S. News & World Report’s prestigious list of Best Colleges, an annual ranking of the best colleges and universities in the U.S.
Out of 135 universities, Jacksonville University was ranked 34th overall on this year’s list of Best Regional Universities in the South and, once again, was recognized as a Best Value college, climbing five spots to reach 37th on that list.
“Higher education is an investment, and in the current climate, with national student loan debt at an all-time high, Jacksonville University is proud to be able to offer a strong return on that investment for our students,” said Jacksonville University President Tim Cost.
Dr. Will Miller, Jacksonville University’s Executive Director of Institutional Analytics, Effectiveness and Strategic Planning, noted this year’s strong overall score for the University and the atypical shifts among the schools in this year’s regional list. “This year, three universities made the south regional list for the first time, resulting in an unusual amount of movement up or down in the rankings for many schools. That’s why it’s important to also look at the scoring behind each rank. Jacksonville University earned high marks again this year, maintaining its overall score and even outperforming peers in several categories,” said Dr. Miller.
Jacksonville University performed well against regional peers in the academic strength of its students, with nearly 40 percent of JU students ranked in the top 25 percent of their high school graduating class. Jacksonville University also continues to be a welcoming home for veteran students, climbing to 14th this year on the list of Best Colleges for Veterans.
For the second consecutive year, The Keigwin School of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program was recognized as one of the best nursing schools in the U.S., leaping ahead in the rankings on the national list of Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs. This comes as the university prepares to expand its 12-month Accelerated Bachelor of Nursing program to meet the growing demand for nurses in Florida.
Jacksonville University has also invested significantly in the globally ranked programs within its Davis College of Business & Technology, which U.S. News & World Report named one of the Best Business Programs in the country once again this year. The College’s expansion into financial technology programs demonstrates its forward-thinking strategy as it prepares students for the jobs of the future.
