Jacksonville University has been recognized again as a Best Regional University in
the South by U.S. News and World Report for the 2023-2024 academic year. This is the
University’s fifth consecutive year to earn the accolade. 

Jacksonville University ranked 36th overall on this year’s list of Best Regional Universities in the South, landing it
in the top third of the region. It also received a nod as a Best Value School in the
region. Best Value Schools are determined by comparing the academic quality against
the net cost to attend.

“Once again, Jacksonville University has shown that it continues to be considered
amongst the top universities in the region,” said Jacksonville University President
Tim Cost. “We’re proud to offer a high quality, well-rounded educational experience
for our students, and will continue to deliver on our promise to students that we’ll
provide them a stellar return on their investment.”

Each year, U.S. News & World Report reviews thousands of higher education institutions
across the country, gathering data on measures that include graduation and retention
rates, strength of faculty, student-to-faculty ratio, and low rates of student debt
upon graduation.

The University earned several other nods in the rankings, as well. The Davis College
of Business & Technology was recognized as one of the Best Undergraduate Business
Programs. The college jumped 50 spots from the previous academic year. 

“Our undergraduate business program is one of the best in the country, and we are
proud to have this recognized in the rankings,” said Dean of the Davis College of
Business & Technology Dr. Barbara Ritter. “Students in our program benefit from faculty
on the cutting-edge of their disciplines and have unparalleled access to industry
leaders in the city of Jacksonville and beyond. The commitment of our constituencies
to the education of our students is what makes our program exceptional.”

For the third consecutive year, Jacksonville University’s Keigwin School of Nursing’s
Bachelor of Science in Nursing program was recognized as one of the Best Undergraduate
Nursing Programs. The accolade comes as the Keigwin School of Nursing maintained one
of the highest NCLEX pass rates in the state of Florida.

“Our nursing students receive some of the highest quality, hands-on instruction available,
thanks to our incredible faculty in the Keigwin School of Nursing,” said Dr. Mark
Tillman, Dean of the Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences. “We’ve
been educating and providing the community with highly skilled, compassionate nurses
for 40 years, and this ranking is a testament to our ability to evolve and grow to
fit the needs of our students and the community.”

Adding to its accolades as a military friendly school, Jacksonville University was
recognized as a Best College for Veterans amongst Regional Universities in the South.
Jacksonville University appeared on the list of Top Performers on Social Mobility
for Regional Universities in the South. That metric considers a university’s ability
to help economically disadvantaged students finish their studies, especially those
who receive federal Pell Grants.