College Choice Releases 2016 Ranking of Southern Regional Universities
Unique college rankings are based exclusively on factors entering freshmen said most important to college decision
RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- College Choice (http://www.collegechoice.net) has published its 2016 ranking of regional universities in the South (http://www.collegechoice.net/rankings/best-southern-regional-universities-2016/). These are Southern universities that offer a full range of undergraduate programs, and some master's programs, but relatively few doctoral programs.
This ranking is based exclusively on factors actual college students said were most important to their college decision. According to the most recent annual CIRP Freshmen Survey by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, these factors include academic reputation, financial aid offerings, overall cost, and success of graduates in the post-college job market.
Mercer University in Macon, Georgia replaced Winter Park, Florida's Rollins College at number one this year. Rollins took the second spot, followed by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona, Florida.
Universities making the list include (alphabetically ordered):
Appalachian State University, Boone, NC
Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR
Bellarmine University, Louisville, KY
Belmont University, Nashville, TN
Brenau University, Gainesville, GA
Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC
Christian Brothers University, Memphis, TN
Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA
College of Charleston, Charleston, SC
Elon University, Elon, NC
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, FL
Gardner-Webb University, Boiling Springs, NC
Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville, GA
Hampton University, Hampton, VA
Harding University, Searcy, AR
Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, FL
James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA
Lee University, Cleveland, TN
Lipscomb University, Nashville, TN
Longwood University, Farmville, VA
Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
Lynchburg College, Lynchburg, VA
Marshall University, Huntington, WV
Marymount University, Arlington, VA
Mercer University, Macon, GA
Mississippi College, Clinton, MS
Mississippi University for Women, Columbus, MS
Murray State University, Murray, KY
Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, KY
Radford University, Radford, VA
Rollins College, Winter Park, FL
Samford University, Homewood, AL
Stetson University, DeLand, FL
Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN
The Citadel, Charleston, SC
Thomas More College, Crestview Hills, KY
Union University, Jackson, TN
University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR
University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA
University of North Carolina--Wilmington, Wilmington, NC
University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL
University of Tampa, Tampa, FL
University of Tennessee--Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN
University of Tennessee--Martin, Martin, TN
Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, NC
Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
Wingate University, Wingate, NC
Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, NC
Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC
"As with our rankings of national college and universities, when ranking regional universities it made sense to us to consider which factors the largest survey of actual college freshmen said was most important to them when they chose their school," said Jeremy Alder, Managing Editor of College Choice. "Every college ranking involves decisions about what elements of a college to consider. You can't measure or include everything, so why not go with what real students said they valued most in making their own college decision?"
The ranking takes into account academic reputation, average amount of scholarship and grant aid per student, overall net cost, and the average starting salary for graduates. Each factor was weighted equally. Data was derived from several publicly available sources, including the National Center for Education Statistics, Payscale.com, and U.S. News & World Report.
College Choice is an independent online publication dedicated to helping students and their families find the right college. The site publishes rankings and reviews that make finding the best colleges for different interests easier and more fun, as well as resources to help students get into, pay for, and thrive at the college of their choice.
Contact:
Jeremy Alder
Managing Editor, College Choice
http://www.collegechoice.net
(919) 745-8594
Email
SOURCE College Choice
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