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For the ninth straight year, Oklahoma Baptist University has
been ranked as the top comprehensive college in the state in the
U.S. News & World Report annual rankings of "America's
Best Colleges."
OBU was listed second among "Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelor's"
for the western region in the 2003 rankings, which appear in the
Sept. 23 issue of the weekly newsmagazine.
OBU has been Oklahoma's top college in the U.S. News rankings
every year since 1995. The regional area defined as "West"
by the newsmagazine includes Oklahoma, Texas, California, Arizona,
New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon,
Washington, Alaska and Hawaii.
OBU was ranked second in the category for the second consecutive
year. In the 2003 rankings, as in 2002, the private liberal arts
college in Shawnee was ranked after Linfield College, a private
institution in McMinnville, Ore. It marks the 11th consecutive
year for OBU to be ranked in the top-10 for colleges in the West,
and the 13th time in 14 years for the university to be listed
as one of "America's Best Colleges."
Other Oklahoma institutions listed in the Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelor's
category include Oklahoma Christian University (7), Oklahoma Wesleyan
University (18), St. Gregory's University (19), University of
Science and Arts of Oklahoma (20), Langston University (33), and
Oklahoma Panhandle State University (34).
OBU also was ranked in the top two in the region for graduation
rate. In 2001, a total of 56 percent of OBU students had graduated
within six years of freshman enrollment. That percentage was second
to Linfield College, with a graduation rate of 66 percent.
In addition to being ranked second for overall quality, OBU was
listed as a "best value" institution in the U.S. News rankings.
The university was third in the listing of comprehensive colleges
in the region. The rankings appear under the heading "Great Schools
at Great Prices." USAO was ranked first in the category, followed
by Carroll College (Mont.).
"As a private evangelical Christian college, we are extremely
pleased to be ranked so highly academically, and as a 'best value'
institution," said OBU President Mark Brister. "That is a tribute
to the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the support of
our alumni and friends."
Among colleges in the regional rankings, OBU had the highest
percentage of 2001 freshmen who were in the top 25 percent of
their high school graduating classes. A total of 73 percent of
OBU's freshmen were in the top quarter. The closest school in
the region was Linfield, with 61 percent in the top 25 percent
of their classes.
"We are grateful for such strong placement in the annual U.S.
News rankings," said Brister. "For more than a decade, national
recognition has been a by-product of the OBU educational experience.
As more people realize the quality of our educational program,
we continue to attract top-notch students who seek to learn from
outstanding educators."
"A strong graduation rate should be the outcome for our kind
of personalized education," said Dr. Joseph R. Weaver, OBU senior
vice president for academic affairs. "The quality rankings are
reflective of our commitment to providing instruction from qualified,
full-time faculty members."
In the statistical rankings, OBU had the highest percentage of
faculty serving full-time among the top-10 and Oklahoma colleges
in the region. A total of 90 percent of OBU's faculty serve at
the university full-time.
OBU also was ranked second in the region in "peer assessment,"
a category which is based on an academic reputation survey sent
to presidents, chief academic officers and admission deans at
peer institutions in the region. Linfield garnered the top spot.
"The U.S. News rankings have attracted people both inside
and outside our state to consider pursuing their college education
at OBU," said Brister. "The kind of qualities U.S. News
measures have been categories we have fared well in for many years.
It is a welcome confirmation of the quality of our programs. Still,
the success of our alumni in fields like medicine, business, nursing,
education, ministry, the arts, psychology, and other areas remains
the strongest indicator of OBU's overall quality."
OBU students reacted to the news with a view to the future.
"I'm not surprised. The Unified Studies program does make us
one of the best all-round schools," said Tiffany Monhollon, a
junior journalism major from Eufaula, Okla. "Being a junior who's
looking toward the future, just knowing that others respect OBU
and view it as a quality school gives me confidence when I'm out
looking for a job."
Others saw the ranking as validation of OBU's mission.
"OBU promotes faith and learning and challenges students spiritually
and academically, so it is wonderful that we are known not just
for being religious, but for our high standards of academic excellence,"
said Alisha Baker, a junior cross-cultural ministries and public
relations major from Ramona, Okla.
Founded in 1910, OBU offers nine bachelor's degrees, with 75
majors. The university's fall 2002 enrollment is approximately
1,850. OBU students are from 38 states and 22 other countries.
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