Bob Jones University

===Accreditation and rankings===
Bob Jones Sr. was leery of [[academic accreditation]] almost from the founding of the college, and by the early 1930s, he had publicly stated his opposition to holding [[regional accreditation]].<ref>However, in the earliest college catalog (called "An Epoch in Education") Jones wrote, "Having met all the requirements, we have made application for admission to the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools|Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools]]." (32)</ref> Jones and the college were criticized for this stance, and academic recognition, as well as student and faculty recruitment, were hindered.<ref name=p68>{{cite book|last=Turner|first=Daniel|title=Standing Without Apology: The History of Bob Jones University|page=68}}</ref>

In 1944, Jones wrote to [[John Walvoord]] of [[Dallas Theological Seminary]] that while the university had "no objection to educational work highly standardized…. We, however, cannot conscientiously let some group of educational experts or some committee of experts who may have a behavioristic or atheistic slant on education control or even influence the administrative policies of our college."<ref>Jones to Walwoord, May 8, 1944, in {{cite book|last=Turner|first=Daniel|title=Standing Without Apology: The History of Bob Jones University|pages=354–355}}</ref> Five years later, Jones reflected that "it cost us something to stay out of an association, but we stayed out. We have lived up to our convictions."<ref>Jones to James O. Buswell, May 12, 1949, in {{cite book|last=Turner|first=Daniel|title=Standing Without Apology: The History of Bob Jones University|page=68}}</ref> In any case, lack of accreditation seems to have made little difference during the post-war period, when the university more than doubled in size.<ref name=p68/>

Because graduates did not benefit from accredited degrees, the faculty felt an increased responsibility to prepare their students.<ref>{{cite book|last=Turner|first=Daniel|title=Standing Without Apology: The History of Bob Jones University|page=203}}</ref> Early in the history of the college, there had been some hesitancy on the part of other institutions to accept BJU credits at face value, but by the 1960s, BJU alumni were being accepted by most of the major graduate and professional schools in the United States.<ref>"BJU's reputation in academic circles gradually became more respected for the intellectual preparation and strong character of its graduates. By the 1960s several graduate schools actively courted university alumni, and BJU graduates were accepted into most of the major graduate programs in the country despite the school's opposition to regional accreditation." {{cite book|last=Turner|first=Daniel|title=Standing Without Apology: The History of Bob Jones University|pages=203, 353–355}}</ref> Undoubtedly helpful was that some of the university's strongest programs were in the areas of music, speech, and art, disciplines in which ability could be measured by audition or portfolio rather than through paper qualifications.<ref name="Michael Collins 2007">Michael Collins, "Accreditation at Bob Jones University" (2007), unpublished paper, Bob Jones University Archives, Mack Library.</ref>

Nevertheless, by the early 2000s, the university quietly reexamined its position on accreditation as [[Diploma mill|degree mills]] proliferated, and some government agencies, such as local police departments, began excluding BJU graduates because the university did not appear on appropriate federal lists.<ref name="Michael Collins 2007"/> In 2004, the university began the process of joining the [[Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools]]. Candidate status—effectively, accreditation—was obtained in April 2005, and full membership in the Association was conferred in November 2006.<ref>BJU is also a founding member of the [[American Association of Christian Colleges and Seminaries]], a small group of institutions "clearly identified with the historic Christian fundamentalist tradition".[http://www.aaccs.info/members.asp American Association of Christian Colleges and Seminaries] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430001429/http://www.aaccs.info/members.asp |date=April 30, 2013 }}.</ref> In December 2011, BJU announced its intention to apply for regional accreditation with the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]] (SACSCOC), and it received that accreditation in 2017.<ref>''Greenville News'', December 7, 2011; Paul Hyde, "Bob Jones University earns accreditation, boosting prestige," ''Greenville News'', June 15, 2017, 1. The university said that "significant changes" in SACS' approach to accreditation, including "respect [for] the stated mission of the institution, including religious mission", had addressed its earlier concerns about regional accreditation. [http://www.bju.edu/news/2011-12-05-regional-accreditation.php BJU website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111208014211/http://www.bju.edu/news/2011-12-05-regional-accreditation.php |date=December 8, 2011 }}.</ref>

In 2017, [[U.S. News & World Report|US News]] ranked BJU as #61 (tie) in Regional Universities South
and #7 in Best Value Schools.<ref>[https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/bob-jones-university-666997/overall-rankings US News website].</ref>