The annual U.S. News & World Report rankings of national universities was released Monday.
The rankings, first published in 1983, are based in part on peer surveys filled out by university presidents, provosts and deans of admission, according to U.S. News & World Report. Data such as student graduation rates are among other information considered in the rankings.
The state’s flagship, the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville dropped 15 slots to 78th among 132 public universities. UA tied with the University of Mississippi for the ranking, with Chancellor Joe Steinmetz attributing the slide in part to changes in the rankings methodology to evaluate the retention of students receiving Pell grants.
Such grants are reserved for students with exceptional need, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Among schools in Arkansas, only UA was ranked in the national universities category. Hendrix College ranked in a tie for 76th with four other schools among a total of 172 ranked national liberal arts colleges. It had the same ranking last year.
The University of the Ozarks in Clarksville ranked third among 64 schools ranked in the Best Regional Colleges-South category.
John Brown University in Siloam Springs ranked 13th out of 105 schools in the regional university category among Southern schools, up four spots from last year.
Other Arkansas schools ranked in this regional category were: Harding University (tied for 20th); the University of Central Arkansas (tied for 71st); and Henderson State University (tied for 91st); Arkansas State University (tied for 95th); and Arkansas Tech University (tied for 102nd).
Southern Arkansas University’s ranking was not listed specifically, but was stated to be between 107th and 141st in southern regional universities. Its business program was also ranked between 458 and 503 nationally.
Ouachita Baptist University ranked between 173rd and 229th among national liberal arts colleges.