Judson ranked 20th best regional college by magazine

Judson University in Elgin is ranked 20th on a list of Best Regional Colleges in the Midwest by U.S. News and World Report, officials said.

Judson, a private Christian university founded in 1963, tied four ways for 20th with Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, McHendree University in downstate Lebanon and Bluffton University in Bluffton, Ohio.

"It is gratifying to see Judson continue to climb in its national stature in spite of the worst recession since the 1930s," said Judson President Jerry Cain. "We have been able to attract an outstanding faculty, cut our discount rate and raise our admission standards in the past year."

Judson first made the magazine's list in 2005, tallying a 54th ranking in the "top tier" of Best Regional Colleges.

Last year, the school was 26th in the survey, which looks at 16 indicators such as peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, financial resources, alumni giving and others.

The survey targeted colleges in a 12-state region that also includes Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Other Illinois schools were: Eureka College, 29th; Greenville College, 31st; Quincy University, 35th; Blackburn College, 50th; MacMurray College, 52nd; and Robert Morris University, 61st.

The top-ranked regional college in the Midwest was Taylor University in Upland, Ind.