SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. (Sept. 23, 2026) – U.S. News & World Report named John Brown University the top-ranked regional university in Arkansas and the top Christian college in the same category.
In the 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, JBU ranked No. 18 among 152 regional universities in the South. Other Arkansas schools on the list include Arkansas Tech University (No. 79), Southern Arkansas University (No. 104), Henderson State University (No. 125) and University of Arkansas - Monticello (No. 129).
"Earning this recognition for the 11th consecutive year reflects the dedication of our faculty and staff to student success," said Robert Norwood, vice president for academic affairs. "At JBU, we believe a rigorous, Christ-centered education transforms lives, and rankings like this affirm that our students are receiving an exceptional academic experience that prepares them to honor God and serve others."
Within the Regional Universities (South) rankings, JBU ranked No. 11 in Top Private Colleges and No. 16 in Best Value Schools.
U.S. News rankings are based on student outcomes, peer assessment, faculty resources, financial resources and standardized tests.
For the 11th year, JBU was also recognized by The Chronicle of Higher Education as a Great College to Work For, earning Honor Roll distinction for elite performance across multiple categories.
Survey results showed JBU excelling in areas such as mission and pride (92%), faculty and staff well-being (89%) and confidence in senior leadership (87%). JBU’s overall positive response rate (82%) ranked well above national benchmarks for similar institutions.
The Great Colleges to Work For program includes a two-part assessment process: the ModernThink Higher Education Insight Survey, administered to employees and the ModernThink Higher Education Institution Questionnaire© (IQ), which captures employment data and workplace policies and practices at each institution.
“This recognition reflects the faculty and staff who show up every day with a genuine commitment to our students and to one another,” said Kim Hadley, executive vice president. "When people are deeply invested in a mission as meaningful as JBU's Christ-centered education, it shows in the classroom, in the residence halls and in the spiritual formation of the students we are privileged to serve."
The Great Colleges to Work For program is one of the nation’s largest and most respected workplace recognition initiatives. For more information and to view the complete list, visit https://greatcollegesprogram.com/list/colleges/.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News) and Arkansas’ No. 3 university (The Wall Street Journal), JBU enrolls more than 2,600 students from 35 states and 58 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including business, nursing, family and human services, engineering, teacher education, psychology, computer science, construction management, biology, Bible and visual arts. Seven graduate degrees are available in business, counseling, outdoor program management and cybersecurity.
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