Lyon College is frequently recognized as a leading liberal arts institution that maintains a commitment not only to exceptional undergraduate education, but also to recognizing students' achievement and potential. Some of Lyon's notable rankings include

• 14 C.A.S.E./Carnegie Foundation Arkansas Professor of the Year awards;
• ranking as a top tier national liberal arts college for six years in a row by U.S. News and World Report;
• ranking as one of the “Best in the Southeast” for 13 years in a row by the Princeton Review;
• ranking as a top liberal arts college and a Southern “Best Bang for the Buck” college by Washington Monthly three years in a row;
• ranking as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by forbes.com;
• ranking as third among 17 four-year colleges and universities based on acceptance selectivity; enrollment, retention, and graduation rates; and low student loan default percentage by bestcolleges.com;
• ranking in the top 15 percent of colleges, universities, and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace military service members, veterans, and spouses as students by Victory Media; and
• being named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for Lyon’s commitment to volunteering, service learning, and civic engagement.