Palm Beach Atlantic University is ranked 46th among the best universities in the South according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2016 edition released today, rising from 51st place last year. The publication includes rankings of more than 1,800 schools nationwide. To learn more about the U.S. News College Compass, which provides access to the most complete rankings and data, visit the online U.S. News Store.

Two statistics point to Palm Beach Atlantic’s favorable ranking – improvement in retention (up 3 percent) and graduation rate (up 7 percent). The 2016 ranking places Palm Beach Atlantic tied with Freed-Hardeman and Lee universities of Tennessee and Mississippi University for Women in the top tier of regional universities in the South.

In addition, U.S. News ranked Palm Beach Atlantic 25th in best online programs (tied with Siena Heights University in Michigan). PBA was rated 35th among universities in the region that participate in federal initiatives helping veterans and active service members apply, pay for and complete their degrees.

“This announcement heralds another year of abundant blessings at Palm Beach Atlantic,” President William M.B. Fleming Jr. said. “We start out with enrollment at capacity for the third consecutive year and look ahead to marking 3 million community service hours contributed to the community by students since 1968.”

U.S. News gathers data from each college on key indicators of academic excellence. Each factor is assigned a weight that reflects a judgment about how much a measure matters. Finally, the colleges and universities in each category are ranked against their peers, based on their composite weighted score. To find more information on the Best Colleges 2016 rankings methodology, go to www.usnews.com/collegemeth.

Palm Beach Atlantic University is a private, independent university offering undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees in West Palm Beach, Orlando, Wellington and online. The University is dedicated to the integration of Christian principles to prepare students for learning, leadership and service.