Jacksonville University has been recognized again as a Best Regional University in the South by U.S. News and World Report for the 2023-2024 academic year. This is the University’s fifth consecutive year to earn the accolade.
Jacksonville University ranked 36th overall on this year’s list of Best Regional Universities in the South, landing it in the top third of the region. It also received a nod as a Best Value School in the region. Best Value Schools are determined by comparing the academic quality against the net cost to attend.
“Once again, Jacksonville University has shown that it continues to be considered amongst the top universities in the region,” said Jacksonville University President Tim Cost. “We’re proud to offer a high quality, well-rounded educational experience for our students, and will continue to deliver on our promise to students that we’ll provide them a stellar return on their investment.”
Each year, U.S. News & World Report reviews thousands of higher education institutions across the country, gathering data on measures that include graduation and retention rates, strength of faculty, student-to-faculty ratio, and low rates of student debt upon graduation.
The University earned several other nods in the rankings, as well. The Davis College of Business & Technology was recognized as one of the Best Undergraduate Business Programs. The college jumped 50 spots from the previous academic year.
“Our undergraduate business program is one of the best in the country, and we are proud to have this recognized in the rankings,” said Dean of the Davis College of Business & Technology Dr. Barbara Ritter. “Students in our program benefit from faculty on the cutting-edge of their disciplines and have unparalleled access to industry leaders in the city of Jacksonville and beyond. The commitment of our constituencies to the education of our students is what makes our program exceptional.”
For the third consecutive year, Jacksonville University’s Keigwin School of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program was recognized as one of the Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs. The accolade comes as the Keigwin School of Nursing maintained one of the highest NCLEX pass rates in the state of Florida.
“Our nursing students receive some of the highest quality, hands-on instruction available, thanks to our incredible faculty in the Keigwin School of Nursing,” said Dr. Mark Tillman, Dean of the Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences. “We’ve been educating and providing the community with highly skilled, compassionate nurses for 40 years, and this ranking is a testament to our ability to evolve and grow to fit the needs of our students and the community."
Adding to its accolades as a military friendly school, Jacksonville University was recognized as a Best College for Veterans amongst Regional Universities in the South. Jacksonville University appeared on the list of Top Performers on Social Mobility for Regional Universities in the South. That metric considers a university’s ability to help economically disadvantaged students finish their studies, especially those who receive federal Pell Grants.
