Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, TX, has once again ranked in U.S. News Regional Colleges West rankings list. U.S. News puts out an annual comparison of colleges. The University is ranked at #21 out of 65 schools in our category, up from #22 on last year’s rankings.

“It is nice to receive affirmation from a reputable organization of the quality we all experience on a daily basis,” shares Ken Shaw, Southwestern Adventist University President.

The U.S. News rankings focus on academic excellence, with schools ranked on up to 15 measures of academic quality. Overall, the rankings emphasize student outcomes include graduation and retention rates. The college ranking categories are based on the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, the most widely accepted classification system in U.S. higher education. U.S. News has used the Carnegie classification system since the first Best Colleges rankings in 1983.

"I encourage parents and students to use the wealth of data and information in Best Colleges to identify schools that suit their specific needs," said Brian Kelly, editor and chief content officer of U.S. News. "In addition to considering factors like location and cost, families should pay close attention to graduation and retention rates. These are important indicators of how well a school supports its students both academically and financially. "