SEARCY, Ark. — Harding University has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best universities in the South for the 17th consecutive year. The rankings are in the magazine’s 2011 America’s Best Colleges issue, which hits newsstands Aug. 31.
The University ranked 20th this year, up six spots from the 2010 ranking. Harding was the only Arkansas institution included among the top 40 regional universities in the South behind such notable schools as Rollins College, Stetson University and James Madison University.
The report also ranked Harding at No. 5 — up from No. 9 last year — on its “Great Schools, Great Prices” list as a best value among schools in the South. In addition, Harding was named an “A-Plus School for B Students.”
Harding is included in the Best Regional Universities category, which comprises schools that offer a full range of undergraduate- and master’s-level programs, but few, if any, doctoral programs. Nearly 575 universities were ranked in this category against their peer groups in one of four geographic regions — North, South, Midwest and West.
The 12 states included in the magazine’s southern region include colleges from West Virginia to Florida and from Arkansas to the East Coast. Harding is the highest-ranked Arkansas school in this category.
“Harding is continually ranked among the South’s most prestigious colleges,” said Dr. David B. Burks, president of the University. “We are pleased that U.S. News & World Report has once again recognized the quality of the Harding experience for the 17th consecutive year. Our exceptional academic programs continue to rank Harding as one of the best colleges in the nation.”
To determine the rankings, the magazine evaluated universities across the nation in areas such as graduation rate, peer assessment, retention of students, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving rate. For the first time, U.S. News also included the opinions of high school counselors who have firsthand knowledge of the academic reputation of colleges nationwide.
