Andrews University Ranked Number 11 among “Overperforming” Schools
by AT News Team
U.S. News & World Report ranked Andrews University (AU) number 11 on its list of “Overperforming Colleges and Universities in the Nation.” This concept measures the degree to which an institution’s overall position in the rankings exceeds or falls short of its undergraduate academic reputation rank. The magazines “Best Colleges of 2013” include the first-ever analysis of schools that are overperforming or underperforming their undergraduate academic reputations in terms of their overall rankings.
“This report appears to support the reality that small private and Christian institutions can—and often do—offer an environment of excellence and nurturing where students thrive and succeed, often beyond what might be expected,” said Dr. Andrea Luxton, AU provost. “However, it is also difficult for smaller institutions to find the resources to communicate that value widely, which inevitably leads to an underestimation of their value. As far as Andrews is concerned, this report recognizes that our quality programs are very competitive with some of the best institutions in the nation.”
The schools that ranked high in this analysis, including AU, performed well in key academic metrics such as selective admissions, financial and faculty resources, alumni giving, and graduation and retention rates. AU was the only Adventist institution rated as an overperforming university.
The top 15 overperforming schools in the list include in rank order: (1) Adelphi University, N.Y.; (2) Ashland University, Ohio; (3) University of St. Thomas, Minn.; (4) Stevens Institute of Technology, N.J.; (5) St. Mary’s University of Minnesota; (6) Azusa Pacific University, Calif.; (7) Edgewood College, Wis.; (8) University of Tulsa, Okla.; (9) Yeshiva University, N.Y.; (10) Biola University, Calif.; (11) Andrews University; (12) St. John Fisher College, N.Y.; (13) South Carolina State University; (14) University of La Verne, Calif.; and (15) Maryville University of St. Louis, Mo.
Earlier this year, AU was included in other rankings published by the news magazine. With a diversity index of 73, it tied for fourth rank in Campus Ethnic Diversity and with 13 percent of its students from outside the U.S., it tied for ninth rank in Most International Students.
Andrews University is operated by the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and provides graduate school programs that supply key personnel for the denomination around the world. Founded in 1874, it is located in a rural area just north of the state line in Michigan near South Bend, Indiana.
