November 1, 2016 (Jackson, Miss.) - U.S. News and World Report awarded Belhaven the prestigious title of 2017 Best Value. Only 31 regional universities in the South were selected for the list, and Belhaven ranked 20 out of the top schools.
Kevin Russell, Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing, said, “This award affirms the tremendous value found in a degree from Belhaven University and we take great pride in being named to this distinguished list of colleges and universities.”
According to U.S. News, best value schools are above average academically and cost considerably less than many other schools when the financial aid that they dispense, in the form of need-based grants and scholarships, is taken into account.
Russell adds, “Competitive pricing and strong scholarship opportunities give students a top quality, private and Christ-centered education at public university prices. We strive to be exceptional stewards of our resources and seek to provide a quality education at costs that are obtainable.”
This ranking is one of many for the University and other institutions have recognized the value of a Belhaven degree. For the twelfth consecutive year, Belhaven was honored as America's 100 Best College Buys for its affordability and financial aid available to its students.
For seven consecutive years, Belhaven has been recognized as a Christian College of Distinction. U.S. News and World Report released its “Best Colleges” edition, and for the fourth consecutive year, the University was named among the top regional colleges in the South. U. S. News also rated Belhaven a top college offering online bachelor degrees and a leading college for veterans.
Additionally, Belhaven has been honored for three consecutive years as a Military Friendly institution, and the University was named one of America's Best Christian Colleges by Instructional Research and Evaluation.
The Best Value rankings were based on ratio of quality to price, need-based aid and average discount. The ratio of quality to price accounted for 60 percent of the overall score; the percentage of all undergraduates receiving need-based grants accounted for 25 percent; and the average discount accounted for 15 percent.
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