October 29, 2013 (Jackson) -U.S. News & World Report ranked Belhaven University a top regional university in the South on the 2014 Best Colleges list.
Dr. Roger Parrott, President of Belhaven University, said, “We are thrilled to be named a top university in the South. We strive for excellence in higher education and this accolade is a reflection of the efforts of our staff and faculty as well as our students.”
A regional university, according to U.S. News & World Report, is one that provides a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s degree programs. The category includes 621 universities ranked with four geographic areas – North, South, Midwest and West.
Dr. Parrott adds, “We are excited about all of the national recognition Belhaven University has been receiving. This ranking is good news for us, on top of being recognized as one of the 43rd best colleges and universities to work for by the Chronicle of Higher Education.”
This year, U.S. News made changes to the Best Colleges ranking methodology to reflect the current state of college admissions and place more emphasis on student outcomes. In addition, graduation rate performance, which measures the difference between a school’s predicted and actual graduation rates, was extended to all of the Best Colleges ranking categories. As a result, outcome-related measures account for 30 percent of the rankings and are now the most heavily weighted factors.
Belhaven University stands among select Christian colleges and universities and has been repeatedly named one of “America’s 100 Best College Buys." The University offers 30 academic majors across a full spectrum of disciplines as well as a variety of graduate programs. In addition, Belhaven has achieved the distinction of being among only 30 universities nationally accredited in each of the major arts – music, theatre, visual art and dance. All programs are taught from a Christian worldview perspective and are guided by the mission to prepare students academically and spiritually to serve Christ Jesus in their careers, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas.
Belhaven University serves over 3,700 students offering undergraduate and graduate degrees on its residential campus, an online degree program, and graduate and adult degree programs in Jackson, Memphis, Orlando, Houston, Chattanooga, and Atlanta.