Princeton Review Ranks OBU ‘Best in the West” for the 16th Year in a Row

August 25, 2020

For the 16th consecutive year, The Princeton Review recognized OBU as one of the best colleges and universities in the western United States. OBU was one of 127 institutions listed in the “Best in the West” section on the educational research firm’s website feature, “2021 Best Colleges: Region by Region.”

Nationally renowned universities and colleges are recognized each year, in five different zones: Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, West and International. This year 655 colleges were recognized as being academically outstanding schools. OBU is one of 127 schools that were named on the “Best in the West” list for academic excellence and one of only seven schools named in the state of Oklahoma.

The Princeton Review’s 85-question survey asks students about their professors, administrators, school services, campus culture and other facets of life at their schools. The company’s methodology for the ranking lists uses a five-point Likert scale to convert qualitative student assessments into quantitative data for school-to-school comparisons. The Princeton Review does not rank the colleges in its lists hierarchically and the rankings are based off of student opinion rather than the organization’s views.

OBU President Dr. Heath A. Thomas is thrilled about this continuing recognition for the University.

“Once again, Princeton Review has recognized OBU as one of the best colleges and universities in the nation. This ranking reminds us of the academic excellence of Bison Hill, along with the life-changing experience that comes with being a student at OBU.

“I am grateful to our students, faculty and staff, as they work together to make OBU the premier university in which to live and to learn. I am grateful for our alumni and supporters, who make this transformational education possible. And I am grateful for OBU’s mission, which empowers us to equip students to think critically and live faithfully so they may become the next generation of future shapers in every square inch of God’s creation. At OBU, we boldly live on-mission to impact the world for God and for good.”

Comments about the school, taken from the student surveys, are featured on the university’s profile page, which gives insight into the campus life at OBU. One Spanish major stated, “OBU has a fantastic education curriculum. It incorporates faith and learning, which is applicable to our everyday lives.” The same student continued, “OBU is a Christian university that focuses on the liberal arts so that students are exposed to many different areas of study in order to succeed in a diverse world.” Students describe their professors as “engaging., encouraging and happy to help students.”

The Princeton Review is a leading tutoring, test prep and college admission services company. Every year, it helps millions of college- and graduate school-bound students achieve their education and career goals through online and in-person courses delivered by a network of more than 4,000 teachers and tutors, online resources and its more than 150 print and digital books published by Penguin Random House.

View OBU's profile on the Princeton Review website.