Biola University has again been named one of America’s best colleges, earning a spot in the top tier of the “best national universities” category of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges 2022 rankings, released Sept. 13. In addition, Biola was ranked on a new list this year — the 2022 Undergraduate Nursing Programs list — as having a stellar program training students to enter the healthcare profession.

“We celebrate the hard work of our faculty and staff reflected in our ranking in the higher U.S. News & World Report tier for America's national universities,” said Biola University President Barry H. Corey. “It's encouraging to be recognized for the excellent education and thriving community Biola offers to students. Special recognition on several lists this year highlights and affirms our focus on Biola's educational value, welcoming community, academic quality, and committed service to veterans and nursing students.”

The U.S. News rankings are considered the most notable of the annual published college rankings. For more than 20 years, Biola has been included on U.S. News’ list of national universities, which consists of 391 institutions that “offer a wide range of undergraduate majors as well as master’s and doctoral degrees,” according to U.S. News. This year, Biola is ranked at No. 196 overall, and is one of 11 universities that are members of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) to be ranked in the first tier, which consists of 298 schools. Biola is the top ranked CCCU member school in the National Universities category.

To calculate the rankings, U.S. News uses quantitative data that assesses universities’ performance in everything from graduation and retention rates to faculty resources, measuring up to 17 indicators of academic quality.

The annual guide spotlights Biola on six special recognition categories in the 2022 rankings. Notably, Biola is included, for the first time, on the 2022 Undergraduate Nursing Programs list. Biola ranked #251 out of 694 universities, which put us in the top 36% of the colleges recognized on the list. Deans and senior faculty of each ranked school peer-ranked other institutions’ BSN programs on a 1-5 scale. Biola received a 3.0 out of 5.0. Learn more about Biola’s Nursing Program.

For the third year in a row, Biola was recognized on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans list. Biola was included on the list partially for the number of Yellow Ribbon School services and veterans enrolled in those services. Learn more about Biola’s Veteran and Military Affiliated Student Programs and Services online.

Biola is recognized on the 2022 Best First Year Experience list due to Biola’s notable experience it provides for first-year students. In addition, Biola is included on the 2022 Top Performers on Social Mobility list for the university’s strong outcomes for Pell Grant recipient students. Ranked at #85 out of 179 national universities, Biola is recognized on the 2022 Best Value Schools list for Biola’s strong quality to price ratio, discount rate and high academic quality alongside its net price.

The annual guide also spotlights Biola as one of the nation’s “2022 A+ schools for B students.” The list includes universities that are deemed as top colleges that seek a broad and engaged student body, admitting students who are well-rounded and have a sense of purpose, and not immediately disqualifying a student from admission who may have less than a 4.0 GPA average.

The U.S. News rankings are the latest in a series of national recognitions for the university. In late August, Princeton Review ranked Biola as a 2022 Best Regional College — one of 126 best colleges in the Best in the West category. Princeton Review highlights 654 colleges across five regional zones that are considered academically outstanding and worth students’ consideration during a college search. Students surveyed for Princeton Review shared the following about Biola: “‘The school’s focus on learning is equaled by its attention to spirituality ... The curriculum incorporates ‘the things we care about into lessons (connections to real life scenarios, jobs, and the Bible)’ and integrates ‘outside experiences such as field-related volunteer work, observation hours, and internships’ to offer ‘rigorous yet engaging’ programs.” Read more at Biola’s Princeton Review profile.

U.S. News’ Best Colleges 2021 guidebook will be in stores on Oct. 27 and is available for pre-order online.

Learn more about Biola’s academic programs across nine schools. Biola launched new programs this year including a fully online multiple and single subject teaching credential programs through the School of Education as well as an online Master of Divinity program through Talbot School of Theology. Biola will launch a fully online bachelor’s degree program in Communication in the Spring. 

Written by Sarah Dougher, media relations coordinator and administrative assistant to the senior director of university communications. For more information, contact Sarah at (562) 906-4524 or sarah.m.dougher@biola.edu.