Contact: Jennifer Cherry or Lauren Herrin, 248-855-6777

SPRING ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 26, 2013 /Christian Newswire/ -- The 2014 edition of the U.S. News and World Report's America's Best Colleges ranked Spring Arbor University (SAU) in the top tier of the "Midwestern Regional Universities" category of colleges and universities.

"We are excited to be selected as a top tier institution for the fifth straight year," says president Brent Ellis, "but more importantly, we remain committed to fulfilling our mission to help students pursue wisdom in their studies and in their faith as they live out their purpose as ambassadors for Christ."

U.S. News uses a unique methodology to rank schools. By weighing categories such as peer assessment, retention and graduation rates, faculty and financial resources, student selectivity and alumni giving, U.S. News is able to analyze colleges and universities.

Spring Arbor University held its overall ranking from a year ago at 60. SAU increased in several areas including the percent of freshmen in the top 25 percent of their high school graduating class, which increased by seven percent this year, the percentage of classes under 20, which was up two percent, and the percentage of faculty with terminal degrees (up three percent).

The University's enrollment has steadily increased over the past several years. In 2007, SAU surpassed the 4,000 mark, and in the past five years, enrollment for its online programs has increased 130 percent to over 400 students. Traditional undergraduate enrollment has increased 10 percent in the last five years to its current on-campus enrollment of approximately 1,600 students.

Campus improvements have also continued steadily since 2000 with a wide range of new buildings and renovations, the most recent being the renovation and addition to the Student Life Center, which was completed last spring adding 20,000 square feet including new and/or expanded meeting spaces, bookstore, health care facility and much more.

Founded in 1873, Spring Arbor University (SAU) is a Christian liberal arts institution with its main campus in Spring Arbor near Jackson, Michigan. The University delivers a lifetime of benefits associated with a Christian college education to its more than 4,000 enrolled students and provides an excellent return on investment. More than 70 undergraduate majors and programs, seven degree-completion, two associate, and eight graduate programs are available online and at 18 locations across Michigan and Ohio. For more information, visit www.Arbor.Edu.