HLG, SBU named to America’s best Christian colleges

HANNIBAL – Hannibal-LaGrange College (HLG) and Southwest Baptist University (SBU) have once again been recognized as providing some of the best Christian education in the nation.

HLG was named one of America’s Best Christian Colleges and was recognized as having the Best College Scholarships for the fourth consecutive year by Institutional Research & Evaluation, Inc. (IR&E). HLG is only one of three higher education institutions in Missouri named as one of America’s Best Christian Colleges – a second being SBU – but HLG was the only school to receive the Best Scholarships recognition. More than 1,400 colleges and universities were analyzed in consideration of these honors.

SBU was named one of America’s Best Christian Colleges for the 10th consecutive year and one of America’s 100 Best College Buys for the 11th consecutive year.

“We are delighted to be recognized for our dedication to excellence and to providing families with a Christian higher education experience that is ranked among the most affordable universities in the region and in the nation,” Darren Crowder, SBU’s director of admissions said.

 Both SBU and HLG were ranked as Christian colleges on the basis of Christian influence, grade point average of incoming freshmen as well as the ACT/SAT scores of incoming freshmen. HLG garnered its status as having the Best Scholarships for available merit-based (not repayable) scholarships that are available to incoming full-time freshmen. Other criteria include offering a merit scholarship that is equal to 50 percent of the annual cost of attendance, offered regardless of residence.

In addition to its recent recognitions, SBU was ranked by U.S. News & World Report in the top three of Master’s Universities in the Midwest for “Least Student Debt Load” in their 2007 America’s Best Colleges issue.”

Institutional Research & Evaluation, Inc. is an independent research and consulting organization specializing in the recruiting and retention of students for institutions of higher education. Consistent with its mission, and as a guide by which institutions may be compared, each year IR&E, Inc. identifies the American colleges and universities providing students the very best opportunities in higher education. No college or university paid to be included in these reports. Schools are included solely on the basis of merit.