UMHB Ranks in Top Tier in US News & World Report's America's Best Colleges

08/25/08

UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR RANKS IN THE TOP TIER IN
U.S.NEWS & WORLD REPORT'S ANNUAL AMERICA'S BEST COLLEGEGS

Washington, D.C. - August 22, 2008 - UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR, in Belton, once again earned a top tier ranking among Universities-Master's West category in the 2009 edition of America's Best Colleges by U.S.News & World Report, one of the nation's leading sources of service journalism and news. The exclusive rankings will be published in the magazine's September 1 issue, on newsstands Monday, August 25, and available online at www.usnews.com/colleges beginning today, shows that UMHB moved up in their overall ranking to 45 compared to 48 last year.

"U.S. News & World Report's rankings address many of the factors we, as an institution, measure on a regular basis," said Dr. Jerry G. Bawcom, president of the university.

"While this report is only one way in which students and parents may evaluate our success in serving our students and in achieving our goals, we nonetheless are pleased to see that UMHB continues to garner national attention," said Bawcom.

The U.S. News college rankings, which group schools based on categories created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, have expanded into a multimedia resource for students and parents considering higher education options. By providing timely, relevant, and useful information about the college selection process, the U.S. News Best Colleges package serves as a fundamental resource for those families facing one of the most challenging financial decisions.

"With so many students and families relying on the college rankings for their higher education research, we're always working to find new ways to demystify the college search," said U.S.News & World Report Editor Brian Kelly. "This year, we've included new ranking categories and editorial content that address the most relevant issues to prospective students. We've also developed an interactive student center on USNews.com, which allows students and parents to research their college options through videos, school discussion forums, and expert advice columns."

The 2009 America's Best Colleges covers the traditional rankings of the past, notably the Best National Universities, Best Liberal Arts Colleges, Best Historically Black Colleges, Best College for Your Buck, and A+ Schools for B Students. In this year's edition, U.S. News has significantly expanded the ranking categories to include:
• Up-and-Coming Schools: These colleges and universities have recently made striking improvements or innovations, demonstrating their focused effort on improving their performance and looking into the future.
• High School Counselor Picks: High school guidance counselors share their views on undergraduate programs at American colleges and universities, factoring in each school's academic record, curriculum, faculty, programs, and graduates.

In addition to the new rankings, U.S. News offers a wealth of ranking and college information online - roughly 100,000 searchable pages - at the student center on USNews.com. The site is host to numerous interactive features designed to help students and parents with the college selection process,
including:
• Student Calendar: Visitors can search and add important test and college admission dates.
• Video Gallery: More than 2,000 videos offer candid advice about colleges & universities.
• Video Profiles: 8 Students document their experience throughout the college admissions process.
• School Forums: Students can discuss and share information in each school's online forum.
• Expert Columns: Admissions experts reveal tips for the application and admissions process.

The 2009 America's Best Colleges package represents the most comprehensive look at how more than 1,400 accredited four-year schools compare on a set of 15 widely accepted indicators of excellence. Among the many factors weighed in determining the rankings, the key measures of quality are: peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving, and graduation rate performance (National Universities and Liberal Art Colleges).

About the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
The University of Mary-Hardin Baylor is a four-year private Christian university offering master's degrees and a doctoral program in education. For more than 160 years, UMHB has provided a personalized approach to education to help students prepare for exceptional careers and lives. The focus at UMHB is on the student. Total enrollment at the University is more than 2,700 students, with a student to teacher ratio of 15 to 1. Faculty and staff are committed to helping students develop intellectually, ethically, emotionally, spiritually, and socially.

About the U.S. News Media Group
The U.S. News Media Group is a multiplatform digital publisher of news and analysis, which includes U.S.News & World Report magazine, www.usnews.com, and www.rankingsandreviews.com. Focusing on Health, Money & Business, Education, and Public Service/Opinion, the U.S. News Media Group has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers. The U.S. News Media Group's signature franchises include its News You Can Use® brand of journalism and its "America's Best" series of consumer guides that include rankings of colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, health plans, and more.