JMU, MBC among top colleges in South
James Madison University and Mary Baldwin College have earned high marks in the latest U.S. News and World Reports rankings of America’s Best Colleges.
JMU is the number one public master’s-level university in the South in the rankings for the 16th consecutive year. Mary Baldwin came in at #21 among all master’s-level universities in the South, its highest ranking in five years among the 117 schools in the category.
MBC will also be highlighted in the Aug. 24 issue of U.S. News & World Report for being among 15 master’s-level universities in the South recognized as “Great Schools, Great Prices.” The higher the quality program and the lower the cost, the better the deal — according to the U.S. News ranking formula — and Mary Baldwin comes in at No. 7.
“At the core of our mission is the unshakeable conviction that an MBC education transforms individuals, who then have the knowledge, skills, perspective, and desire to make a positive difference in the world,” Mary Baldwin College President Pamela Fox said.
JMU is also on the U.S. News and World Report list of “Top Up-and-Coming Schools” of 77 colleges and universities that “were singled out as schools that have recently made the most promising and innovative changes in academics, faculty, students, campus or facilities. Within the up-and-coming schools listing, JMU is ranked No. 2 among public universities-master’s in the south region.
JMU is on an 80-school list, “A Focus on Undergrads,” of colleges and universities that “were singled out most often when experts were asked to identify schools where the faculty has an unusual commitment to undergraduate teaching. The university is the top-ranked public institution for “A Focus on Undergrads” among universities-master’s in the south region.
Madison is included in the guide’s “Programs to Look For” section on first-year experience that goes beyond orientation programs for making freshmen feel connected.
JMU’s 91 percent freshman retention rate and 81 percent average graduate rate were among the factors contributing to the university’s stellar ranking in the public master’s level.
The complete 2010 America’s Best Colleges guidebook will be available Aug. 25. View the complete listing by U.S. News & World Report (updated 8/20): http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college.
Visit the magazine’s blog for a behind-the-scenes information and analysis: www.usnews.com/blogs/college-rankings-blog/index.html.
