Awards & Accolades

Honors & Awards

The wonderful students, faculty and staff who comprise our campus community have helped Friends University earn several awards and accolades, including the following:

2023 Awards


Friends University’s Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi Earns National Award

Sigma Delta Pi | Aug. 7, 2023


2022 Awards


Friends’ ranked #1 Online MBA Program in Kansas by MBA Central

Friends’ ranked #1 Online MBA Program in Kansas by MBA Central

MBA Central | July 29, 2022


2021 Awards


Friends’ ranked #41 nationally in Cyber Security and #1 in Kansas

Friends’ ranked #41 nationally in Cyber Security and #1 in Kansas

Study.com | May 26, 2021


Friends’ ranked #7 in Education Survey's 2022 Best Master’s in Family Counseling Programs

Friends’ ranked #7 in Education Survey’s 2022 Best Master’s in Family Counseling Programs

Education-survey.org | April 28, 2021


Friends’ ranked #24 nationally in Best Online MBA Programs, citing Best Scheduling

Intelligent.com | April 28, 2021


Friends’ ranked #20 nationally in Healthcare Administration and #1 in Kansas, citing Best Faith Based Program

Intelligent.com | April 20, 2021


Friends’ awarded the 2021 HSPA Certification Badge

Homeschoolingparent.com | March 12, 2021


Friends’ MFT program ranked #31 nationally and #1 in Kansas, citing Best Job Placement Rates

Intelligent.com | Feb. 26, 2021


Friends University named Military Friendly School

Military Friendly Schools | Feb. 18, 2021


Best Online Bachelor's Programs of 2021 - U.S. News & World Report

Friends University online programs earn high national rankings from 2021 U.S. News Best Online Programs

U.S. News Best Online Programs | Jan. 27, 2021


Friends University earns national rankings from 2021 U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges

Friends University earns national rankings from 2021 U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges

U.S. News | Sept. 15, 2020


2020 Awards

Friends University ranks in top 25 online executive MBAs in 2020 Best Value Schools list

Best Value Schools | Dec. 18, 2020


Friends University ranked #34 in nation and #1 in Kansas for best Health Care Administration programs

Read the Article | RNtoBSNprogram.com/ | Sept. 1, 2020


Friends University housing ranked No. 1 in state based on student satisfaction

Friends University dorm rooms ranked #23 in the nation and #1 in Kansas with Niche.com

Niche.com | Aug. 25, 2020


Military Friendly School 2020-2021

Friends University named 2020-2021 Military Friendly School

Military Friendly | Announced Feb. 11, 2020


Friends University Recognized for 7 Top Degree Programs in the U.S.

Friends University ranked as one of the Best Master's in Education Programs

Intelligent.com | Jan. 16, 2020
Master’s in Health Services Degree Programs | Ranked #4
MBA in Healthcare Management Degree Programs | Ranked #4
Cyber Security Degree Programs | Ranked #5
Master’s in Healthcare Administration Degree Programs | Ranked #14
MBA Degree Programs | Ranked #24
Master’s in Education Degree Programs | Ranked #34


Friends University online programs earn high national rankings from 2020 U.S. News Best Online Programs

Friends University online programs earn high national rankings from 2020 U.S. News Best Online Programs

USNews.com | Jan. 14, 2020


2019 Awards

Online Masters Programs in Management Information Systems

Master of Management Information System Program ranks at #5 in nation

Onlinecollegeplan.com | Announced Oct. 17, 2019


Friends University’s Kappa Phi Chapter and Professor Earn National Award

Announced Sept. 11, 2019


Online Change Management MBA program ranks at #7 in nation

MBACentral.org | Announced May 15, 2019


2019 Health Services Award from OnlineMasters.com

Friends University named as one of top Health Care Leadership MBA programs

OnlineMasters.com | Announced Feb. 18, 2019


Top Online Cyber Security MBAs

Friends University named as one of top online Cyber Security MBA programs

MBACentral.org | Announced Feb. 18, 2019

Online Masters Best MBA in Supply Chain Management Degree Programs 2019

Friends University named one of the Best Master’s in Supply Chain Management Degree Programs for 2019

OnlineMasters.com | Announced Feb. 18, 2019

2019 Health Services Award from OnlineMasters.com

Friends University named one of the Best Master’s in Health Services Programs for 2019

OnlineMasters.com | Announced Feb. 18, 2019

Military Friendly School 2019-2020

Friends University named 2019-2020 Military Friendly School

Military Friendly | Announced Jan. 22, 2019

Online programs earn high rankings from U.S. News and World Report

Online programs earn high rankings from U.S. News and World Report

USNews.com | Jan. 15, 2019

2018 Awards

Friends University ranked as one of the Best Master's in Education Programs

Friends University ranked as one of the Best Master’s in Education Programs

Intelligent.com | Dec. 6, 2018

Online Masters Best MBA Degree Programs 2019

Friends University MBA program ranks among top 50 in the nation

OnlineMasters.com | Announced Nov. 7, 2018


Friends University ranked as a Hidden Gem of the Midwest

ValueColleges.com | Oct. 26, 2018


Grad School Hub Most Affordable Online Programs

Friends ranks #18 in 20 Most Affordable Master’s in Management Information Systems

Grad School Hub | Announced Oct. 9, 2018


Best Online Colleges - Master in Accounting 2018 Best Value Schools Award

Friends ranks among best in nation for accounting master’s programs

Best Value Schools | Announced April 10, 2018


2018 Top Online Programs - The Best Colleges

Online MBA with accounting concentration ranks No. 22 in nation

The Best Colleges | Announced March 29, 2018


Phi Theta Kappa 2018

Friends named to Phi Theta Kappa’s 2018 Transfer Honor Roll for third year

Phi Theta Kappa | March 27, 2018


Friends University ranked in Top 50 Universities with the Lowest Student Debt

ValueColleges.com | Feb. 13, 2018


Online programs earn high rankings from U.S. News and World Report

USNews.com | Jan. 10, 2018


Friends’ Online Master of Education program ranked nationally at #76 on the 2018 Best Online Graduate Education Programs

USNews.com | Jan. 10, 2018


2017 Awards

Friends University ranks No. 17 among Healthcare Administration online programs

Friends University ranks No. 17 among Healthcare Administration online programs

TopMastersInHealthCare.com | Dec. 21, 2017


Friends University ranks No. 4 among online colleges in Kansas

Friends University ranks No. 4 among online colleges in Kansas

The Best Colleges | Dec. 20, 2017


Friends online MBA with accounting concentration ranks No. 11 in the nation among top online accounting programs

Friends online MBA with accounting concentration ranks No. 11 in the nation among top online accounting programs

GuideToOnlineSchools.com | Dec. 7, 2017


Friends online MBA with accounting concentration ranks No. 16 among “most affordable” online colleges

Friends online MBA with accounting concentration ranks No. 16 among “most affordable” online colleges

OnlineU.org | Dec. 7, 2017


5th for Master’s Degrees in Supply Chain Management

5th for Master’s Degrees in Supply Chain Management

Guide To Online Schools | Oct. 10, 2017


Online MBA with Supply Chain Management concentration ranked 12th among most affordable

Online MBA with Supply Chain Management concentration ranked 12th among most affordable

OnlineU.org | Oct. 10, 2017


Online Master of Health Care Leadership ranks No. 19 in nation

Online Master of Health Care Leadership ranks No. 19 in nation

The Best Colleges | Announced Aug. 29, 2017


TOP 50 Online MBA Programs in Accounting 2017

Friends MBA with accounting ranks No. 17 in nation

OnlineMBAToday | Announced Aug. 23, 2017


Master of Health Care Leadership ranks among top 30 programs in nation

Master of Health Care Leadership ranks among top 30 programs in nation

AffordableColleges.com (Healthcare Management Masters Degrees)  | Announced June 28, 2017


Human resource program ranks No. 11 in nation

Human resource program ranks No. 11 in nation

AffordableColleges.com (HR Management Bachelors Degrees) | Announced June 21, 2017


HR program earns SHRM endorsement and ranks No. 1 in state

HR program earns SHRM endorsement and ranks No. 1 in state

Universities.com | Announced May 9, 2017


Master of Education programs ranked among best in nation

Master of Education programs ranked among best in nation

CollegeChoice.com | Announced May 2, 2017


Master’s in family therapy ranked among top Christian programs in nation

Master’s in family therapy ranked among top Christian programs in nation

TopCounselingSchools.org | April 18, 2017


Online master’s degree in Health Care Leadership ranks No. 22 in nation

Online master’s degree in Health Care Leadership ranks No. 22 in nation

Onlinecolleges.net | March 9, 2017


Online MBA with Health Care Leadership concentration ranked No. 27 in nation

Online MBA with Health Care Leadership concentration ranked No. 27 in nation

onlinembatoday.com | Announced March 8, 2017

2016 Awards

Friends University ranked #3 most affordable online master’s degree in Supply Chain or Operations Management

Friends University ranked #3 most affordable online master’s degree in Supply Chain or Operations Management

Bestcollegevalues.com | April 27, 2016


University celebrates environmentally friendly initiatives: Sustainable living speaker, Solar panels at library, Tobacco-free campus grant, Student Earth Day activities

University celebrates environmentally friendly initiatives: Sustainable living speaker, Solar panels at library, Tobacco-free campus grant, Student Earth Day activities

April 4, 2016


Friends University to offer new cyber security master’s degree

Friends University to offer new cyber security master’s degree

March 31, 2016


Friends University housing ranked No. 1 in state based on student satisfaction

Friends University housing ranked No. 1 in state based on student satisfaction

Niche.com | Announced Feb. 23, 2016


Other Distinctions

2023 – 2024 College of Distinction, College of Christian Distinction and College of Kansas Distinction

A College of Distinction is:

  • Nationally recognized by education professionals as an excellent school.
  • Strongly focused on teaching undergraduates.
  • Home to a wide variety of innovative learning experiences.
  • An active campus with many opportunities for personal development.
  • Highly valued by graduate schools and employers for its outstanding preparation.

Council for Christian Colleges & Universities Affiliate Campus

The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) is a higher education association of 180 Christian institutions around the world. The 120 member campuses in North America are all fully accredited, comprehensive colleges and universities with curricula rooted in the arts and sciences.


Foundations of Excellence First Year

The John N. Gardner Institute is a national leader in efforts to improve undergraduate learning and retention at institutional, regional and national levels. It assists institutions in creating campus-wide collaborative policies, processes and programs that enhance the experience of first-year and transfer students. These enhancements help ensure students’ success in their academic and co-curricular pursuits. Friends University is among the four-year universities to participate in the Foundations of Excellence program.

Foundations of Excellence


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