Samford University students are among the nation’s most engaged according to rankings published by Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education. The university ranked #1 in the South and #3 nationally for student engagement, climbing nine spots since last year’s ranking. In a recent story, the outlet noted the South is home to several of the top schools for engagement, with Samford ranked highest.
The student engagement ranking assesses how well institutions prepare students for life after graduation. According to The Wall Street Journal, student engagement is a key indicator of exceptional teaching quality and illustrates how challenged and inspired students feel inside and outside the classroom, as well as the breadth of courses available.
“Decades of research has found that the best way to truly understand teaching quality at an institution – how well it manages to inform, inspire, and challenge students – is through capturing what is known as student engagement.”
Samford’s mission to nurture student development intellectually, ethically and spiritually is fostered through an array of opportunities including 166 student organizations, global engagement in more than 19 different countries, and nearly 300 courses that incorporate community service. Additionally, undergraduate students complete Samford’s core curriculum, providing a well-rounded foundation in the liberal arts. The result is a highly-tailored educational experience that results in 97% of undergraduate alumni employed or in further study within six months of graduation.
The latest Wall Street Journal ranking affirms Samford’s growing national reputation. Samford is regularly recognized as one of the top Christian universities in the United States, and receives high marks for value. The university was recently ranked #40 in the nation for “Best Undergraduate Teaching” by U.S. News & World Report and #34 nationally among private universities on Kiplinger’s Personal Finance’s “Best College Values” list. Considering there are approximately 4,300 degree-granting postsecondary institutions recognized by the Department of Education, these rankings place Samford in the top 4% of all colleges and universities in the country today.