- Give
- Alumni
- Parents
John Brown University
2000 W. University St., Siloam Springs, AR 72761479-524-9500
jbuinfo@jbu.edu
Christ Over All Since 1919
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked university (The Wall Street Journal) and top-ranked regional university (U.S. News), JBU enrolls more than 2,200 students from 36 states and 38 countries.
More than a degree.
Educational Philosophy
Education at John Brown University has never been merely academic. John Brown Sr., founder and first president of the institution, was committed to a well-rounded philosophy of basados en la Biblia studies that focused on the holistic development of students – head, heart and hand.
Head
Learn to think critically and pursue truth. A JBU education is not about facts that you'll soon forget. It's about training your mind to think creatively and solve complex problems so that it can serve you well for the rest of your life.
Heart
Engage in faith and community. You'll connect with others, experience profound personal growth and develop a way of life in which you are deeply aware of God's calling and choose to live in response.
Hand
Develop practical career skills and serve others. We train you to be excellent in your profession but more importantly to honor God and serve others in every facet of life.

On-Campus Undergraduate
JBU offers 52 majors for high school graduates and transfer students seeking a traditional college experience at our main campus.
Online Undergraduate
Designed for working students who are looking to earn their bachelor's degree fully online, JBU offers eight online programs.
Graduate
Earn a master's degree in business, education, cybersecurity and counseling, with many programs offered fully online.
More about JBU
Who We Are
We are a top-ranked Christ-centered, interdenominational university committed to integrating faith and learning, fostering holistic spiritual formation, promoting pragmatic liberal arts education, and preparing people to follow Christ’s call to serve others in all areas of life.
Established in 1919 by evangelist Dr. John E. Brown Sr., JBU was created to combine Christian liberal arts education with an emphasis on specialized vocational training. While we may not train airplane mechanics today, a "head, heart, hand" education with "Christ Over All" is still our focus.
The university has no denominational affiliation and admits students of any faith. JBU is a vibrant and growing independent Christian university of the arts, sciences and professions.
What We Believe
As a Christian institution, John Brown University holds to the interdenominational doctrinal position identified by the following statements:
- We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative word of God.
- We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
- We believe that, for the salvation of lost and sinful people, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary.
- We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
- We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the resurrection of damnation.
- We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.
As adopted by the National Association of Evangelicals.
Mission, Vision, Values
Mission
John Brown University provides Christ-centered education that prepares people to honor God and serve others by developing their intellectual, spiritual and professional lives. JBU’s mission is summarized in its two historic mottos: "Christ Over All" and "Head, Heart and Hand."
Vision
A Christ-centered, interdenominational university that leads the nation in integrating faith and learning, fostering holistic spiritual formation, promoting pragmatic liberal arts education, and preparing people to follow Christ’s call to serve others in all areas of life.
Values
- Christ-centered. We pray and worship together as a community; we submit to God’s truth and authority as expressed faithfully through His inspired Scriptures; we seek to restrain evil and to promote good through our work and service; and we educate students to serve Christ and His Kingdom because we are followers of Jesus Christ, the incarnate and visible person of the triune God.
- Pursuit of Learning. We educate students to seek, and exemplify ourselves, a globally-aware, holistic, curious and lifelong pursuit of learning because God created the world good and it is part of our worship of God to learn as much as we can about Him and His world.
- People. We make decisions that benefit students; we extend hospitality to strangers; we recognize the God-given gifts of our colleagues; we act and treat each other with integrity; we respectfully engage and encourage a variety of differences among people; we nourish relationships; and we study and learn in community because God has created people in His image.
- Service. We listen and learn from others, recognize and meet their needs and engage and create cultures to imagine new opportunities for people to flourish because God has called us to love our neighbor.
- Stewardship. We strive to be wise stewards of our time, talents, and financial and natural resources because this world belongs to God.
- Excellence. We seek to do all things well and then strive to do them better because God calls us to do all things in honor of Him.
Leadership
JBU President Dr. Charles Pollard oversees the mission of JBU — educating the whole person "head, heart, hand." During President Pollard's tenure, which began in 2004, the university has been blessed to receive over $312 million in gifts, to grow its endowment from $50 million to over $160 million, and to complete 17 major building projects.
The following are members of the Presidential Cabinet:
- Dr. Steve Beers, VP for Student Development
- Mrs. Julie Gumm, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
- Dr. Kim Hadley, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
- Dr. Jim Krall, VP for University Advancement
- Dr. Ryan Ladner, VP for Enrollment Management
- Dr. Robert Norwood, VP for Academic Affairs
- Dr. Ted Song, Chief Diversity Officer
Our Programs
Traditional Undergraduate
Nearly 1,200 students are enrolled in one of JBU's more than 40 traditional undergraduate programs where we are committed to providing them with an academically-challenging educational experience.
JBU Online allows students with no prior college credit to earn their bachelor's degree in organizational leadership, management, liberal arts and psychology completely online.
JBU offers master’s degrees in professional disciplines through full-time or part-time enrollment. Graduate programs include degrees in the areas of business, counseling, education, higher education and cybersecurity. Classes are offered in Springdale, Little Rock, Siloam Springs and online, depending on the program.
Arkansas' #1 University - Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal has ranked JBU as Arkansas' #1 university in the 2024 College Rankings. (We claimed the spot in 2020 and 2022 as well.)
JBU is also third among Christian schools.
U.S. News
In the 2024 U.S. News & World Report College Rankings, JBU ranked 13th out of 102 southern regional universities, making it the top-ranked Arkansas school in that category for the eigth consecutive year.
Best Value
Money named JBU the best value private university in a six-state region. (Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Kansas and Missouri)
Forbes Financial Ranking
Forbes gives John Brown University an A+ Financial Ranking, the same grade as Ivy League schools around the country.
The rankings assess college's balance sheet health and operational soundness using nine measures.
Great Colleges to Work For
JBU has achieved “Great College to Work For” recognition for eight years by the Great Colleges to Work For program. In 2022 JBU was named to the Honor Roll, a status granted to only 42 colleges each year that are highlighted most across the recognition categories.
Campus Locations
Siloam Springs
Home to our traditional undergraduate programs and graduate classes in counseling and education.
2000 W. University
Siloam Springs, AR 72761
479-524-9500
jbuinfo@jbu.edu
Little Rock
The JBU Little Rock Center offers master's degree programs in counseling and school counseling as well as regional support for online undergraduate students.
JBU Counseling Education Center
10816 Executive Center Drive, Suite 100
Little Rock, AR 72211
(501) 771-9000
LittleRockCenter@jbu.edu
News from JBU
Ted Song Named a 2023-2024 CCCU Presidential Fellow
SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (Nov. 10, 2023) – The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities announced that Ted Song, Ph.D., chief diversity officer at JBU, has been selected as one of the first three CCCU Presidential Fellows along with Keith Hall, Ph.D., (Azusa Pacific University) and Sarah Visser, Ph.D., (Calvin University).
The Presidential Fellowship Program is a new, yearlong fellowship to prepare leaders to answer the call to the Christian college presidency. Each year, the CCCU will select one to three individuals for the fellowship who currently serve or have previously served as CCCU commissioners and who demonstrate exceptional strength of character, competence and leadership potential.
During the one-year fellowship program, Presidential Fellows will access numerous opportunities for professional development, leadership development and networking.
Song is associate professor of electrical engineering, chief diversity officer and chief innovation officer at John Brown University. He also serves as vice president of the Christian Engineering Society and chair of the CCCU’s Diversity and Inclusion Commission.
“On behalf of the JBU community, I want to congratulate Dr. Ted Song for being named an inaugural CCCU Presidential Fellow,” said JBU President Chip Pollard. “We know of Ted’s excellence and faithfulness, not only to the mission here at JBU but also to other institutions in the CCCU, and we are grateful for this opportunity for him to grow in his leadership.”
For more information about the CCCU’s Presidential Fellows Program, contact Chief Advancement Officer Jill Hartness at jhartness@cccu.org.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked university (The Wall Street Journal) and top-ranked regional university (U.S. News), JBU enrolls more than 2,200 students from 37 states and 42 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including nursing, psychology, business, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Eighteen graduate degrees are available in business, counseling, cybersecurity, and education.
November 9, 2023
JBU Music & Theatre to Present 'The Addams Family'
SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (Oct. 27, 2023) - John Brown University Music & Theatre will present "The Addams Family," music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, Oct. 27-28 at 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 2-4 at 7:30 p.m., at the Berry Performing Arts Center on the Siloam Springs Campus.
Based on the classic characters created by Charles Addams, "The Addams Family" is a wacky musical comedy that celebrates family and love in the most unlikely of places.
"The Addams Family is a goofy, wacky, weird musical comedy that is somehow so relatable and touching," said Liesl Dromi, assistant professor of music at JBU. "Our team of music & theatre students, faculty, staff, and local professional musicians have had an absolute blast bringing this production to life. We hope our audiences enjoy it as much as we do!"
You can purchase tickets by phone at (479) 524-7382, at jbu.edu/tickets, or at the door the night of the performance. Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for senior adults, JBU alumni, faculty and staff, $7 for students and $3 for JBU students.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked university (The Wall Street Journal) and top-ranked regional university (U.S. News), JBU enrolls more than 2,200 students from 37 states and 42 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including nursing, psychology, business, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Eighteen graduate degrees are available in business, counseling, cybersecurity, and education.
October 26, 2023
JBU Toilet Paper Game Packs Arena for 40th Anniversary
SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (Oct. 27, 2023) - The tradition started on Nov. 12, 1983, when a group of J. Alvin Brown Hall residents and members of the rugby team decided to encourage students to sneak in rolls of toilet paper and let them fly when the Golden Eagles men's basketball team scored the first field goal of the season-opening game.
Jeff Berggren ’84 was serving as the sports information director during the game and admitted that students weren't sure what head coach Curt Pickering would think about their technical-foul inducing stunt. Luckily, the team won the game and a tradition was born.
"Of course, we paid the price the next day with no toilet paper in J. Alvin until the janitors replenished the supply," Berggren said.
It still took several years before the tradition was embraced wholeheartedly by the school and became the students' most-loved tradition.
Students no longer have to raid the school TP supply thanks to a partnership with Kimberly-Clark who has donated 4,000 rolls of toilet paper for the game for the last seven years. Fans exchanged canned food items for a roll of TP to toss, and the other 2,000 rolls will be donated, along with the canned food items, to the Manna Center, a local food bank in Siloam Springs.
This year's game against Barclay (Kan.) was no exception with a packed-out crowd at Bill George Arena.
When junior guard Drew Miller sunk the first basket from 3-point range 47 seconds into the game, the crowd let loose and sent a cascade of toilet paper streaming onto the court from all sides.
"It's such a special small college tradition, and every player gets excited about the first game," said Jason Bescheta, head coach of the men's basketball team. "It builds an incredible energy throughout the entire JBU community."
JBU's TP game is hailed as "the best technical foul in all of sports" by USA Today, was featured on CBS's March Madness Fandemonium special in 2016, and received coverage by ESPN multiple times.
October 26, 2023
JBU's Creciendo Juntos Receives Tyson Grant
SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (Oct. 26, 2023) – John Brown University's Creciendo Juntos program received a grant from Tyson Foods totaling up to $20,000.
Creciendo Juntos, Spanish for "Growing Together," empowers Latino students living in the U.S. to flourish in higher education through a supportive community focused on mentorship, education and service, helping students fulfill their God-given potential.
This investment will allow Creciendo Juntos to help over 75 students attend workshops, host community events such as Loteria Night and the Hispanic Heritage Festival, and cover the cost of book vouchers.
"We are grateful to partner with Tyson as we look to positively impact the lives of our students and our community," said Marcos Gutierrez Angulo, Creciendo Juntos program director. "Tyson's partnership will create both immediate and long-term impact, and we look forward to seeing students transformed as a result."
Additionally, Gutierrez hopes this investment from Tyson Foods will improve college enrollment, retention and graduation rates.
“We are thrilled to be able to provide this investment in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and to assist in improving the lives of our neighbors,” said Tim Grailer, senior director of social impact, Tyson Foods. “We take seriously the responsibility we have as a community member to help scale the good work being done by our nonprofit partners.”
For more information on Creciendo Juntos, please visit www.jbu.edu/student-life/creciendo-juntos/.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked university (The Wall Street Journal) and top-ranked regional university (U.S. News), JBU enrolls more than 2,200 students from 37 states and 42 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including nursing, psychology, business, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Eighteen graduate degrees are available in business, counseling, cybersecurity, and education.
October 25, 2023
JBU Music & Theatre to Present 'The Play That Goes Wrong'
SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (Sept. 25, 2023) - John Brown University Music & Theatre will present "The Play That Goes Wrong" by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields, on Sept. 29, 30, Oct. 6 and 7 at 7:30 p.m., and a matinee performance on Oct. 7 at 2:00 p.m., at the Berry Performing Arts Center on the Siloam Springs Campus.
The play that goes wrong chronicles the disastrous attempts of a local drama society to stage a great murder mystery.
This hilarious physical comedy is full of theatrical surprises. Watch out! Both actors and audience members might end up rolling in the aisles.
"I saw the original production in London, and I thought it was the funniest show I'd ever seen," said Josiah Wallace, associate professor of theatre at JBU. "The whole team has been putting the hours in on this one, and we all have a fair number of scrapes and bruises to show for it."
You can purchase tickets by phone at (479) 524-7382, at jbu.edu/tickets, or at the door the night of the performance. Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for senior adults, JBU alumni, faculty and staff, $7 for students and $3 for JBU students.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked university (The Wall Street Journal) and top-ranked regional university (U.S. News), JBU enrolls more than 2,200 students from 37 states and 42 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including nursing, psychology, business, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Eighteen graduate degrees are available in business, counseling, cybersecurity, and education.
September 20, 2023
JBU Alumna's Film Featured at Bentonville Film Festival
SILOAM SPRINGS, Arkansas (July 14, 2023) – John Brown University alumna MacKenzie Martz ’20 premiered her film "The Story of Mr. Glass" at the Bentonville Film Festival (BFF) on June 17, 2023. The film was shot partly to fulfill her film degree from JBU.
The film's subject, David Glass, is a renowned business executive known for his impactful leadership in the retail industry and sports management. As the former CEO of Walmart from 1988 to 2000, Glass spearheaded the company's significant expansion, driving its transformation into a global retail powerhouse. Additionally, he served as the owner and CEO of the Kansas City Royals baseball team, overseeing its successful turnaround and the Royals' remarkable journey to win the World Series in 2015. Glass's strategic vision and commitment to excellence have left an indelible mark on both the business and sports realms.
"I chose to direct this film because I wanted to share the full story of my grandfather's life," Martz said. "For years I went with him to business meetings and watched him give speeches, never fully understanding what he did. In my eyes, he was just my grandfather who took me to play laser tag and get ice cream. He always encouraged my love for film, and I feel that it is my duty as his granddaughter to tell his story in an authentic and meaningful way."
Every student enrolled in the film program at JBU must complete the senior film project, a two-semester process that requires students to take a film from an idea to a finished product, which is viewed on campus at the end of the year. Students graduate from the department with experience in all aspects of film production, as well as generating a film production book, which is an extremely valuable tool when looking for jobs after graduation.
"David Glass was an innovative retailer, diehard sports fan, and loving family leader. His perseverance propelled him to leave his small town and pursue his dreams," says the film description. "Through hard work, leadership, and faith he became one of the greatest business minds of our generation. After successfully building Walmart beside Sam Walton, he left to pursue another love...baseball. Through it all, his priority was rooted in family and faith."
After completing their project, students are strongly encouraged to submit their films to various film festivals and contests and so MacKenzie submitted "The Story of Mr. Glass to the BFF.
"It was such an exhilarating week filled with unforgettable moments," Martz said. "We were fortunate enough to have an encore screening, allowing our film to be showcased twice. The outpouring of support from numerous individuals was truly heartwarming and I will forever be grateful."
Martz was also featured on a panel to talk about her film that included the CEO and president of Walmart, Doug McMillon, and was moderated by Tony Waller, Walmart's vice president of constituent relations and racial equity.
"The festival also presented an opportunity to connect with an array of kind-hearted and talented individuals," Martz said. "Without a doubt, this experience will remain etched in my memory."
Martz said she is extremely grateful for her producers Devon Gulati and Devin Arnone, who provided unwavering support and were featured by her side at the film festival.
Martz has submitted "The Story of Mr. Glass" to over 20 festivals. The trailer can be viewed on YouTube.
In the future, Martz hopes to work on horror movies and made connections at the Bentonville Film Festival to further that goal.
"I've always wanted to produce horror movies and thankfully I met some people who can help move me in that direction in the film industry," Martz said. "Directing was a one-and-done experience for me since it was a personal story with people I was close to. The small producer role is what I want to keep doing in the future."
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked university (The Wall Street Journal) and top-ranked regional university (U.S. News), JBU enrolls more than 2,400 students from 33 states and 44 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers more than 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including nursing, psychology, kinesiology, engineering, biology, family and human services, and graphic design. Eighteen graduate programs are available in business, counseling, cybersecurity, education and higher education.
-30-
July 13, 2023
Resources
Policy Information
JBU does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, military status, or age in the administration of its educational policies, admissions, financial aid, employment, educational programs, or activities.
John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News Best Colleges 2019), JBU enrolls more than 2,100 students from 38 states and 53 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers 41 majors, with top programs including engineering, nursing, family and human services, biology, graphic design and construction management.
Copyright 2023 John Brown University. All rights reserved.