Abilene Christian University joined an elite group of colleges nationwide to be honored for both teaching and research in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings.
Only 26 U.S. institutions ranked in the top 50 nationally in both “Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects” and “Undergraduate Teaching,” including only two Texas universities – ACU and Baylor. Among other institutions on both lists were Carnegie Mellon, Dartmouth, Duke, Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Yale. ACU is also the only member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities to be named to both lists.
“Being honored in both of these categories affirms what we’re accomplishing at Abilene Christian,” said Dr. Phil Schubert, president. “Students experience world-class academics and opportunities for research alongside a focus on teaching and mentoring and relationships, which is at the heart of our mission. It’s exciting that U.S. News & World Report and our peers recognize our commitment to a holistic student experience, excellent academics, top-tier research opportunities and talented faculty.”
In addition, ACU continued to rank among the nation’s best in the “Programs That Enhance Student Experience” benchmarks focused on the student experience and student success – placing in six of eight categories this year and in the top 25 in five of them, including Study Abroad. Abilene Christian has been recognized nationally in multiple categories each year since the benchmark’s debut in 2020.
“Programs That Enhance Student Experience” national rankings:
- #7 in Service Learning [highest-ranked Texas university]
- #11 in First-Year Experiences
- #14 in Learning Communities
- #18 in Study Abroad [highest-ranked Texas university]
- #21 in Senior Capstone [highest-ranked Texas university]
- #42 in Undergraduate Research/Creative Projects
Other categories in which Abilene Christian was honored:
- Undergraduate Teaching – National Universities #45
- Best Undergraduate Nursing #254
In the Best National Universities list, ACU is #296 (tied) out of 434 institutions, one of seven private Texas universities in the top 300.
“This list isn’t just 434 general universities but the top tier of doctoral research universities in the nation,” said Dr. Robert Rhodes, senior vice president for academic affairs. “Out of approximately 4,000 colleges and universities across the country, the National University category comprises, in essence, the top 10% – and it’s a significant honor to be climbing these ranks.”
The 2025 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges assessed nearly 1,500 U.S. bachelor’s degree-granting institutions.
— Wendy Kilmer
Sept. 24, 2024