Miller Tower. (Photo by Kristi Woody)

Union University moved up one spot to 13th among regional universities in the South, according to the annual rankings of colleges and universities for 2014 by U.S.News & World Report released Sept. 10.

It’s the fourth straight year for Union to be ranked in the top 15 schools in its category and the highest ranking ever for the university. This year also marks the 17th straight year for Union to be categorized as one of the South’s best universities.

A regional university, according to U.S.News & World Report, is one that provides a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s degree programs, while also offering a few doctoral programs. The category includes 621 universities ranked with four geographic areas – North, South, Midwest and West. Other categories the publication uses are national universities, national liberal arts colleges and regional colleges.

“To be recognized among the top 15 universities in the South is a remarkable affirmation of the extraordinary education provided by Union’s high quality faculty and staff for our outstanding students,” Union President David S. Dockery said. “To have been recognized now for 17 consecutive years as a top tier institution and to have watched Union consistently move up in these rankings through the years has been quite heartening for the entire Union University community.

“We offer thanksgiving to God for these markers of encouragement.”

For the sixth straight year, the magazine ranked Union as one of the top “Up-and-Coming Schools” in the nation. Union ranked seventh in the South in the “Regional Universities” category of schools that “have recently made the most promising and innovative changes in the areas of academics, faculty, student life, campus, or facilities.” Only 61 schools in the nation were designated as “Up-and-Coming Schools.”

Also for the sixth straight year, Union was selected as one of 25 “A-Plus Schools for B Students” in the South, a category that highlights those colleges “where nonsuperstars have a decent shot at being accepted and thriving—where spirit and hard work could make all the difference to admissions offices.”

In addition, Union’s freshman retention rate of 91 percent was tied with James Madison University for tops among regional universities in the South.

Overall, other West Tennessee institutions ranked in the top tier of the “regional universities” category were Christian Brothers University (24th), Freed-Hardeman University (35th) and the University of Tennessee-Martin (46th). Among other institutions in the Gulf South Conference (in addition to Christian Brothers) in the top tier of the “regional universities” category were Mississippi College (27th), Lee University (51st), Valdosta State University (69th), Delta State University (73rd), the University of North Alabama (80th) and the University of West Georgia (89th).

– See more here.