FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 9, 2025
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – Mid-Atlantic Christian University (MACU) is celebrating a significant academic achievement as two of its senior biology students scored among the highest in the nation on the Major Field Test in Biology, a national exam administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).
Two Seniors Score in Top Percentile Nationwide
Taken by students across the United States to assess their academic proficiency in core biology disciplines, the exam serves as a benchmark for evaluating student learning outcomes and program effectiveness. After a year without biology graduates, MACU had two seniors preparing to graduate in August 2025 take the test this past April. Their results, which were received last week, place them in the top percentile nationwide.
One student earned a raw score of 179, placing in the 97th percentile, while the other achieved an outstanding score of 182, ranking in the 98th percentile. For context, half of all test takers across the country score between 143 and 162.
About the Major Field Test in Biology
The Major Field Test evaluates students across four critical areas of biological science: cell biology; molecular biology and genetics; organismal biology; and population biology, evolution, and ecology. Both MACU students scored well above the national average in each category.
Dr. Robert Smith, Chair of the Department of Arts and Sciences, commented, “I am encouraged by how the biology program has grown over the short time that MACU has offered this academic program.”
Kevin Larsen, Vice President for Academic Affairs, added, “At MACU, we desire that everything we do brings glory to God. In an effort to understand God’s creation, we have put together a rigorous undergraduate biology program that is producing amazing results. This school year, one of our students presented at an international microbiology conference in Vienna, Austria. Now, these two students rise to the top of a nationally recognized exam. I am so proud of how our biology faculty and students are learning about God’s creation.”
Mid-Atlantic Christian University continues to demonstrate its commitment to academic excellence and the integration of faith and learning.
For more information, contact:
Mid-Atlantic Christian University
Email: amy.alcocer@macuniversity.edu
Phone: (252) 334-2043
Website: www.macuniversity.edu