Lipscomb named an up-and-coming university by US News
Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 |
Lipscomb University is again ranked among the Top 20 regional universities in the South as well as an up-and-coming university in the region, according to the U.S. News and World Report’s “2015 America’s Best Colleges” guidebook published today. With an overall ranking of 18th in the Regional Universities-South category, Lipscomb progressed in three of the 11 indicators used for the ranking. Lipscomb University was also ranked the second-best regional university in the South for veterans. A total of 42 universities were included in this list.
“The Lipscomb community is thriving and growing in unprecedented ways,” said Lipscomb President L. Randolph Lowry. “We are always gratified when national leaders and educators recognize Lipscomb University as a vibrant, innovative institution that is on the move. We are particularly pleased to be recognized as a university that serves our nation’s veterans well. We are very intentional with our veterans services program and are proud that it is serving our veterans in a way that is making a difference in their lives and is making their college experiences meaningful.”
Lipscomb was one of eight universities in the South nominated by its peers as an up-and-coming university in 2015. College administrators surveyed in the spring of 2014 for the 2015 rankings were asked to nominate institutions that they think have recently made the most promising and innovative changes in the areas of academics, faculty, student life, campus and facilities. Other institutions on this list include Elon University, Belmont University, Embry-Riddle University and James Madison University.
Other institutions joining Lipscomb in the Top 20 universities in the South include Samford University, The Citadel, James Madison University, Appalachian State University, the College of Charleston and Elon University. Lipscomb ranked higher in the South than universities such as Western Kentucky University, Murray State University, Tennessee Technological University, Marshall University, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, Lee University and Austin Peay State University.
In U.S. News criteria, Lipscomb improved in graduation rate, the percentage of freshmen in top 25 percent of their class and in the acceptance rate.
This is the latest of several recognitions the university has received for its quality and excellence. This summer, the National Council on Teacher Quality named Lipscomb’s College of Education’s undergraduate secondary program No. 2 in the nation and its graduate elementary program No. 14 in the nation.
In August, Lipscomb was one of only 294 universities across the nation named as a College of Distinction for the 2014-2015 school year. The Colleges of Distinction designation is given to select schools to honor their excellence in student-focused higher education. It was also named one of 50 Christian universities across the country recognized by Christian Universities Online in its “50 Best Christian Colleges in the U.S. 2014” list.
With an official enrollment of 4,526, Lipscomb University has experienced its second-highest count in school history. Included in this enrollment count are several notable increases, including:
- An 80.3 percent freshman-to-sophomore retention rate, the highest in university history and well above the national average retention rate of approximately 70 percent;
- 1,411 first-time students, including freshmen, Adult Degree Program, transfers and graduate students, an all-time university record;
- An increase of 41 graduate business students;
- A 12 percent increase in graduate Bible studies students; and
- All-time university enrollment records in
- Adult Degree Program, 271 students;
- Nursing students, 164 students;
- Doctorate of Ministry students, 28 students;
- Doctorate of Education students, 74 students; and
- Graduate studies in film and creative media, 22 students.
The university is poised to continue its growth in the coming months. Earlier this month, the Lipscomb University Board of Trustees approved the formation of a new School of Public Policy and Civic Leadership, a physician assistant degree and the formation of two new colleges, the College of Entertainment and the Arts and the College of Computing and Information Technology, among other initiatives.