Southern Adventist University is pleased to announce a Top Tier ranking by U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” guide for the 14th consecutive year, moving up nine spots from 2014. In addition to that overall honor, the report also singles out the university on its Best Colleges for Veterans list.

Nearly 1,600 institutions are evaluated annually by U.S. News & World Report before results are compiled and released. The magazine’s collection of objective data is used by students and parents to make informed decisions about where to invest in an education. The guide divides colleges and universities into categories based on both geography and the curriculum they offer. Southern earned its honors in the “Regional Colleges” category, which includes schools that focus on undergraduate education but grant fewer than half their degrees in liberal arts disciplines.

"We always have known about the quality spiritual environment that Southern provides students," said Southern President Gordon Bietz. "I'm anxious that all church members, parents, and prospective students also understand that we provide high quality academic excellence as well." 

To view comparative lists, and to learn more about ranking methodology, visit the "Best Colleges" website.

In related news, Southern is once again recognized by Princeton Review in its “Best in the Southeast” category, a designation earned by only 25 percent of the institutions studied. Princeton Review is an education services company widely known for its test prep programs and college and graduate school guides.

“We’re pleased to recommend these colleges to users of our site and chose them mainly for their excellent academic programs,” said Robert Franek, Princeton Review’s senior vice president. “From several hundred schools in each region, we winnowed our list based on data we collected directly from the schools, our visits to schools over the years, and the opinions of college counselors and advisers whose recommendations we invite.”

Southern Adventist University is a private institution run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Founded in 1892, the university is located in Collegedale, Tennessee, and currently enrolls more than 3,200 students pursuing a variety of undergraduate and graduate level degrees.