Hardin-Simmons Named One of The Nation’s 50 Best Christian Colleges

Hardin-Simmons University ranked twenty-eighth on a recently-released list of the 50 Best Christian Colleges in the U.S. by Christian Universities Online, an independent online resource.

Christian Universities Online, which researches and rates Christian higher education in the United States, ranked Christian colleges based on the highest degree of personal attention (student-to-faculty ratio), selectivity (acceptance rate), financial assistance (percentage receiving financial aid), and student satisfaction (retention and graduation rates). These factors were all given equal weight.

“It is affirming and heartwarming for HSU to be recognized in this special way,” said Lanny Hall, HSU President. “One of our strategic goals is to increase awareness of HSU among students and parents who are searching for a Christian higher education institution dedicated to excellence. We are exceedingly pleased that our emphasis on ‘education enlightened by faith’ is being recognized by others.”

The website recognized Hardin-Simmons University’s commitment to a low student-to-faculty ratio and number of faculty holding terminal degrees as distinctive among the universities making the list.

“The low student-to-faculty ratio alongside the fact that over 90% of the faculty hold terminal degrees in their field help ensure the academic training at HSU fulfills its mission to provide an excellent education that will help each graduate stand tall in the marketplace,” states the website.

According to Michael Templeton, lead editor for the ranking, the Christian Universities Online relies on the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data to make it the most objective, and largest, ranking of Christian colleges and universities available. NCES provides information on admissions selectivity, generosity of financial aid, class size and overall student satisfaction.

“This list serves as a good and useful starting point for students searching for a high quality Christian education,” writes Templeton.

This ranking follows the announcement of other recent honors for HSU including a sixth consecutive award from The Chronicle of Higher Education as a Great College to Work For and a naming as a 2014-2015 College of Distinction.

The full list of The 50 Best Christian Colleges in the U.S. can be viewed at www.christianuniversitiesonline.org/best-christian-colleges/