By Jared Fields, Editor in Chief

The U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review recently ranked ACU among some of the best schools in the region and nation.

In U.S. News & World Report, ACU received the No. 17 ranking of 116 universities in the West region to move up eight spots from last year.

ACU was also named the 10th best value as a “Great School at a Great Price.”

The Princeton Review named ACU one of the “Best in the West.” ACU received the recognition as one of 123 schools in the 15-state western
region.

“Taken all together they probably help parents get a snapshot of how they rank among other colleges,” said Michelle Morris, vice president for university relations.

However, Morris said no ranking uses all the criteria the school does.

“When we look across the various rankings and lists we’d like to see the perfect one that has our values and qualities,” Morris said.

The U.S. News & World Report uses peer assessment ratings on a 5.0 scale from presidents, provosts and admissions directors in the West region. ACU scored a 3.2 on that scale and is one of four schools in Texas (St. Mary’s, Trinity University and the University of Dallas) to rank in the top 20 in the West.

Other factors used are graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving.

The Princeton Review is different in some aspects of its rankings. It does not use a mathematical formula but rather a selection team looks at standards of academic excellence in the region and student surveys.

While the U.S. News & World Report ranking is the highest in ACU’s history, the university doesn’t feel it is a tell-all for what the school is about.

“Because we know the time of year it comes out we keep an eye out for it. It’s exciting to move up the list,” Morris said.

“They don’t always get it right but they make a shot at it,” Phil Schubert, executive vice president said. “Do they measure everything we want to measure? No, not by any stretch.”