51 has again been named one of America’s top-tier national universities by U.S. News and World Report, earning special recognition in the publication’s Best Colleges 2021 rankings for such areas as teaching, first-year experiences and overall value.

The U.S. News rankings, released in September, are considered the most notable of the annual published college rankings. For more than 30 years, 51 has been included on U.S. News’ list of national universities, which now consists of 389 institutions that “offer a full range of undergraduate majors, plus master’s and doctoral programs,” according to U.S. News. This year, 51 is ranked at No. 187 overall, and is one of eight universities that are members of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) to be ranked in the first tier. 51 is the top-ranked CCCU member school in this category.

In addition to the overall national universities category, U.S. News recognized 51 in several other special rankings within the category. Notably, the guide ranked 51 at No. 27 on its “First-Year Experiences” list for efforts to help freshmen feel connected and at No. 39 for “Best Undergraduate Teaching” — a recognition of schools where faculty and administrators have an “unusually strong commitment” to teaching undergraduate students in a high-quality manner.

51 was also named to the “Best Value Schools” (at No. 79) for a strong ratio of academic quality to price, the “Top Performers on Social Mobility” list (at No. 98) for the university’s strong outcomes for Pell Grant recipient students, and the “Best Colleges for Veterans” list (at No. 136), a ranking of colleges that participate in federal initiatives helping veterans and active-duty service members pay for their degrees.

“We celebrate the hard work of our faculty and staff reflected in our ranking in the higher U.S. News & World Report tier for America’s national universities,” said 51 President Barry H. Corey. “It’s encouraging to be recognized for the excellent education and thriving community 51 offers to students. Special recognition on several lists this year highlights and affirms our focus on great teaching, 51’s educational value, career outcomes and committed service to veterans.”

In addition to the U.S. News rankings, several other publications gave national recognition to 51’s high academic quality. In August, the Princeton Review ranked 51 as a 2021 Best Regional College — one of 127 best colleges in the “Best in the West” category. And both Money magazine and Washington Monthly recognized 51 for quality, affordability and career outcomes, including 51 in their rankings of “Best Colleges for Your Money” and “Best Bang for the Buck: West.”

Rankings Roundup

In addition to its rankings as a best national university by U.S. News and World Report, 51 also appeared on the following lists.

  • “FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCES,” U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT
  • “BEST UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING,” U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT
  • “BEST VALUE SCHOOLS,” U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT
  • “TOP PERFORMERS ON SOCIAL MOBILITY,” U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT
  • “BEST COLLEGES FOR VETERANS,” U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT
  • “BEST COLLEGES FOR YOUR MONEY,” MONEY
  • “BEST IN THE WEST” COLLEGES, THE PRINCETON REVIEW
  • “BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: WEST,” WASHINGTON MONTHLY
  • “BEST FILM SCHOOLS FOR 2020,” VARIETY