August 20, 2009

U.S. News ranks Harding among South’s best for 16th year

SEARCY, Ark. — For the 16th consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report
magazine has ranked Harding University as one of the South’s best
universities. The rankings are in the magazine’s annual America’s Best
Colleges issue, which hits newsstands Aug. 20.

The University ranked 26th this year and was the only Arkansas
institution included among the top 30 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. 9 on its “Great Schools, Great
Prices” list as a best value among schools in the South.

Harding is included in the Universities-Master’s category, which
comprises schools that offer a full range of undergraduate- and
master’s-level programs, but few, if any, doctoral programs. 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.

“We are pleased to be listed among America’s best colleges,” says Dr.
David Burks, president of Harding. “Harding has consistently been
ranked among the South’s most prestigious colleges. For 16 consecutive
years, U.S. News & World Report has recognized the quality of the
Harding experience. This recognition continues to be an indication of
the exceptional academic programs that we offer.”

To determine the rankings, the magazine evaluated universities across
the nation in areas such as academic reputation, peer assessment,
retention of students, graduation rates, student-to-faculty ratios,
student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving. The
magazine then compiled an overall score for each school.

A survey of presidents, provosts and deans of admission at
institutions in a single category determines a school’s academic
reputation. Retention is based on a six-year graduation rate and the
freshman retention rate — the percentage of freshmen who return the
following year and eventually graduate. Student selectivity factors
include SAT and ACT scores, the proportion of enrolled freshmen who
graduated in the top 25 percent of their high school classes, the
acceptance rate, and the ratio of students who enroll to those
admitted.

To determine which schools offer the best value, the magazine uses a
formula that relates a school’s academic quality, as indicated by its
2010 U.S.News ranking, to the 2008-09 academic year net cost of
attendance for a student who receives the average level of financial
aid. The higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the
better the deal. Only schools ranked in the top half of their
categories are considered because the magazine contends that the most
significant values are among colleges that are above average
academically.

Harding’s academic year begins Aug. 24. When the University was
included in U.S.News & World Report’s rankings in 1994 for the first
time, enrollment stood at just over 4,000. This year, another record
enrollment of more than 6,600 students is expected. Harding is the
largest private university in Arkansas and attracts more National
Merit Scholars than any other private university in the state. Harding
also maintains campuses in Australia, Chile, England,
France/Switzerland, Greece, Italy and Zambia.