Cutting-edge changes land JMU among "Most Innovative Schools"

JMU tied with Lynn University, a private school in Boca Raton, Florida, as the No. 3 Most Innovative Schools among regional universities in the South. JMU is the only public school to be included on this list and moved up the ranking from last year’s position of No. 6. This ranking enables top college officials to pick schools that the public should be watching because of the cutting-edge changes the colleges are making on their campuses in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities.

In other U.S. News & World Report ranking categories, JMU held its place as the No. 2 public regional university in the South and ranked No. 8 in the South in the overall public and private schools category. Regional universities examined by U.S. News are defined as those offering a broad scope of undergraduate degrees and some master’s degree programs but few, if any, doctoral programs.

JMU’s undergraduate business program was ranked No. 114, tied with 19 other colleges and universities. The news magazine surveyed business school deans and senior faculty to rate the quality of business programs. All the schools in the business program category are accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

The JMU engineering program ranked No. 42 among engineering schools that do not offer a doctorate. U.S. News surveyed engineering school deans and faculty members to rate the quality of engineering programs. All the schools in this category are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.

The U.S. News rankings are available at www.usnews.com/colleges. Most of the rankings will appear in the “Best Colleges 2017” guidebook, which will go on sale in retail outlets later in October.