THE BAPTIST p of Ba tist C on ol ti le a g i e c s o s a s n A d l U a n n i o v i t e a r s n i r t e i t e s n EDUCATOR I News Journal of the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities Volume LXXI, No. 1 Fourth Quarter–2006 43 IABCU Member Colleges and Universities Listed Among Nation’s Best in US News Annual Rankings by Bob R. Agee, Executive Director combined high academic repUtation with are then ranked against their peer insti- International Association of Baptist the most reasonable price as compared to tUtions and assigned a score based on the Colleges and Universities peer institUtions. Mercer University, accUmUlated data. he colleges and Universities that are Mississippi College, Carson-Newman The twenty-six IABCU member Tmembers of the International College, Samford University, Wayland schools ranked in the top tier were listed Association of Baptist Colleges and Baptist University, OUachita Baptist in Best National Universities, Best Universities (IABCU), formerly the University, East Texas Baptist University, Universities—Master’s and in Best Association of SoUthern Baptist Colleges and Howard Payne University were listed Comprehensive Colleges—Bachelor’s. and Schools, continUe their prominent among the “Great Schools at a Great Baylor University was listed in the top role within the American higher edUcation Price” in their respective categories. tier of Best National Universities catego- commUnity. Demonstrating that it is pos- The rankings also noted institUtions ry, ranking 81st among the 248 institU- sible to be intentionally Christian and aca- where stUdents gradUated with the most tions that fit the profile. These schools demically excellent, 43 IABCU member debt and the least debt. Among the are evalUated based on the fact that they institUtions were listed among the nation’s schools where stUdents gradUated with offer a “wide range of UndergradUate best in a national sUrvey condUcted annU- the least debt were Gardner-Webb majors as well as master’s and doctoral ally by U.S. News and World Reports University, Mercer University, SoUthwest programs.” The groUp inclUded 162 pUb- magazine. Baptist University, lic institUtions and Twenty-six of the IABCU member and Mid-Continent Twenty-six of the IABCU 86 private institU- schools were listed in the top tier of University. No IABCU member schools were listed tions. institUtions analyzed and compared in member schools IABCU member foUr categories. The magazine ranked the were listed among in the top tier of institutions schools emerged in top 100 schools in each category and schools from which analyzed and compared in significant leader- considered those schools as the top tier stUdents gradUated four categories. ship positions with- of institUtions. IABCU member schools with the most debt. in the Best continUe their march into the top tier The national news magazine stUdied Universities—Master’s category. Samford this year, indicating significant progress more than 1,400 institUtions scattered University (4th ), Mercer University (9th), and achievement in those schools ranked across the United States, gathering data Belmont University (10th), Union in the top groUp. from the schools themselves and solicit- University (25th), Mississippi College Ten schools were listed in the third ing opinions from peer institUtions (29th), Carson-Newman (33rd), Campbell tier, and seven were listed in the foUrth regarding their perception of qUality. University (44th), Gardner-Webb tier. Two of the member schools were Using a weighting system based on what University (61st) and University of the ranked in the top five among schools in the editors believe to be indicators of CUmberlands (64th) were ranked in the their respective category with the highest excellence, they assign a ranking in foUr top tier of Best Universities—Master’s in gradUation rates. Both Oklahoma Baptist categories: Best National Universities; the SoUth. Hardin-Simmons University University and Samford University were Best Liberal Arts Colleges; Best (38th), HoUston Baptist University singled oUt for the high percentage of Universities—Master’s (by region); and (49th), California Baptist University stUdents who started their edUcational Best Comprehensive Colleges— (51st), University of Mary Hardin-Baylor pilgrimage at those institUtions and com- Bachelor’s (by region). The joUrnal’s (57th) and Dallas Baptist University pleted degrees within six years. ranking is determined by analyzing infor- (61st) were ranked in the top tier of Best Based on the criteria Used, the maga- mation gathered on peer assessment, Universities—Master’s in the West. zine identified the schools they consid- gradUation and retention rates, facUlty Samford University was also listed among ered “Great Schools at a Great Price”. resoUrces, stUdent selectivity, financial the top five in gradUation rate within the The category ranked the schools that resoUrces and alUmni giving. The schools (Continued on page 2) Liberal Arts Colleges, Georgetown Contents Baptist Colleges... College was listed in the third tier of (Continued from page 1) institUtions. 1 Baptist Colleges and Universities category of schools. The Best Among the Best Universities— Listed Among Nations Best in Universities—Master’s category looked at Master’s, Campbellsville University, U.S. News Annual Rankings 557 schools classified in this groUp. Charleston SoUthern University, Palm These schools provide a fUll range of Beach Atlantic University, University of 3 Comment UndergradUate and master’s level pro- Mobile and the University of the grams bUt offer few, if any, doctoral pro- CUmberlands were listed among the 4 World Christian Universities grams. schools in the SoUth. Wayland Baptist Of the institUtions University was listed 10 IABCU Website Expands Services ranked in the category among the schools Best Comprehensive The number of IABCU located in the West. 11 Gifts and Grants Colleges—Bachelor’s, member schools ranked SoUthwest Baptist twelve IABCU member in the top tier was the University was ranked 12 Names and Faces schools made the top highest in the history in the third tier in this tier. In the West region, category in the Midwest 13 Legal Notes Oklahoma Baptist of the rankings by U.S. region. 14 Presidents of IABCU Member University (5th), East News and World Report. Within the category Schools Texas Baptist University of Best Comprehensive (11th), and Howard Payne (16th) were Colleges—Bachelor’s, two IABCU mem- 16 IABCU Corporate Sponsors ranked as top tier institUtions. In the ber schools were ranked in the third SoUth region, OUachita Baptist tier. Virginia Intermont College and University (5th), Shorter College (21st), Williams Baptist College were listed Vol. LXXI, No. 1 Fourth Quarter 2006 LoUisiana College (30th), Mars Hill among schools located in the SoUth Publisher: Bob R. Agee, executive College (38th), BlUe MoUntain College region. director/treasurer, ASBCS (41st), Anderson College (44th), Seven IABCU member schools were Managing Editor: Tim Fields, director BlUefield College and North Greenville ranked in the foUrth tier of their respec- University (tied for 49th), were listed tive categories. Those listed inclUded: of communications, ASBCS among the best in this category. In the JUdson College (Alabama), among the Editorial Assistant: Tammy Drolsum, Midwest region, JUdson College in Best Liberal Arts Colleges; William administrative assistant, ASBCS Illinois (44th) was ranked in the top tier. Carey University, among the Best The Baptist Educator (ISSN 0038-3848) is a Oklahoma Baptist University was also Universities—Master’s; Brewton-Parker news magazine pUblished qUarterly for admin- ranked in the listing of schools in this College, Chowan University, Mid- istrators, facUlty, staff, trUstees and friends of category with the highest gradUation Continent University, Hannibal member schools by the International rate among the Best Comprehensive LaGrange College and MissoUri Baptist Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities. Colleges—Bachelor’s. University were listed in the foUrth tier The category inclUdes 320 institU- among Best Comprehensive Colleges— POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: tions that were evalUated by U.S. News Bachelor’s. International Association of Baptist Colleges and inclUdes schools that offer a wide Thirteen member schools reported and Universities range of UndergradUate degrees in liber- gradUation rates of 50 percent or higher, 8120 Sawyer Brown Road, Suite 108 al arts and professional disciplines. with Baylor (72 percent) and Samford Nashville, TN 37221-1410 The magazine also ranked schools (70 percent) leading the way with a high To contact the publisher write: with oUtstanding UndergradUate pro- percentage of entering stUdents gradU- Bob Agee, executive director, IABCU grams in bUsiness and engineering. The ating within six years. A close look at P. O. Box 11655 Jackson, TN 38308-0127 E-mail: [email protected] UndergradUate engineering programs at the reported freshman retention rates Baylor University (20th) and Mercer reflected that 18 IABCU member schools Send news items to: University (36th) were noted among reported retention rates above 70 per- The Educator those with best programs. cent, reflecting admirable sUccess in E-mail: [email protected] 8120 Sawyer Brown Road, Suite 108 The nUmber of IABCU member keeping stUdents who begin their stUd- Nashville, TN 37221-1141 schools ranked in the top tier was the ies at IABCU schools. Fax: (615) 662-1396 • Phone: