JBU continues enrollment growth with record incoming class
Staff reports
September 2, 2026 by Staff reports
John Brown University topped last year's record enrollment when it welcomed a record 473 new students to the Siloam Springs campus for orientation Aug. 19.
The incoming class includes a record 401 freshmen, 60 transfer students and 12 students returning after one or more semesters away, bringing undergraduate enrollment to 1,487 students, according to a university news release.
For the last four years, JBU has set a series of enrollment records: the largest freshman class in 2023, the largest new student class in 2024 and a record undergraduate enrollment of 1,423 students in 2025, according to the release."Families are looking for a university that offers a strong sense of community, academic excellence and a return on their investment," said Ryan Ladner, D.B.A., vice president for enrollment management.
"JBU has always remained clear about its identity. We are an interdenominational Christian university dedicated to whole-person education, shaping graduates who are well-rounded, grounded in faith and prepared with the skills and character to lead and serve. Our continued strong enrollment, along with the success of our graduates in the workforce and beyond, demonstrates that families recognize the value of a JBU education."
“The private Christian college across the street from me in Siloam Springs, Arkansas,”