The University ranked in six categories nationally in the U.S. News and World Report this year.

University ranks in six categories in U.S. News and World Report Rankings. (Photo courtesy of ACU)

The school ranked:
11th in Service Learning
13th in First-year Experience
11th in Learning Communities
36th in Study Abroad
254 in Undergraduate Nursing
329 in Best University

Dr. Phil Schubert, president of the University, said he is proud of the University and the rankings are cause for celebration.

“That’s just a great testament to the good work that we’re doing at ACU,” Schubert said. “The impact it’s having on the student experience and the fact that people across the country are watching and taking notes.”

The U.S. News and World Report makes its rankings based on a mix of primary data the school provides and secondary data from the U.S. Department of Education, according to the U.S. News and World Report rankings.

To qualify for overall rankings, each University must “Offer a broad curriculum under the 2021 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education’s Basic Classification system,” the USNWR website said. “Enroll at least 100 undergraduates. Report a six-year bachelor’s graduation rate for an entering cohort of at least 25 first-time, full-time bachelor’s degree-seeking students.”

In the category of learning community, the school moved up three spots compared to last year; however, the school ranked lower compared to last year in service learning (7), first-year experience (11), study abroad (18), undergraduate nursing (254) and best university (329).

Schubert said he was unconcerned by a few of these rankings because the school still performed well overall.

“Having [three] areas in the top 25, that’s great to me,” Schubert said.

Looking forward, Schubert hopes to continue to grow in many of the categories.

“I’d like to be maybe in the top ten in study abroad,” Schubert said. “That’s a ranking that’s pretty competitive across the country and I’d like to see us with three or four top ten rankings.”