Southeastern Louisiana University earns national rankings with U.S. News and World Report
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University was named one of the top national
performers for the social mobility of its students and among the top 125 regional
universities in the South by U.S. News and World Report.
“These accolades are yet another testament to the tremendous support Southeastern
students receive from our faculty and staff,” said Southeastern President John L.
Crain. “We care about each and every student.”
Every year, U.S. News and World Report publishes what many regard as the gold
standard for college rankings in the United States. This year, 1,400 colleges and
universities were reviewed, focusing on academic quality and measures, such as graduation
rates, retention rates and social mobility.
Graduation rates for first-generation college students were factored into the
ranking’s overall methodology for the first time this year, and the new ranking “Top
Performers on Social Mobility” was added.
The new ranking “evaluates which schools best serve underrepresented students”
and analyzes enrollment and graduation rates of low-income students with Pell Grants.
“Economically disadvantaged students are less likely than others to finish college,
even when controlling for other characteristics,” U.S. News said. “But some colleges
are more successful than others at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating
large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants. The vast majority
of these federal grants are awarded to students whose adjusted gross family incomes
are under $50,000.”
Southeastern was ranked 108th nationally in social mobility and in the top 125
regional universities in the South.
The full rankings can be accessed at https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-universities-south/social-mobility and https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/regional-universities-south.