U.S. News and World Report ranks Winston-Salem State University No. 1 in the state for social mobility
U.S. News & World Report ranked Winston-Salem State University as the No. 1 university in North Carolina for social mobility.
U.S. News & World Report announced the 2024 Best Colleges last week. According to its press release, the rankings this year placed a greater emphasis on social mobility and outcomes for graduating college students, demonstrating the most significant methodological change in the rankings’ history.
Social mobility can be a change in a person’s socio-economic situation throughout their lifetime. It can be measured in terms of earnings, income, health and education. U.S. News & World Report measures social mobility by how well colleges and universities graduated economically-disadvantaged students. These are students who come from families whose incomes are less than $50,000, who received federal Pell Grants, and who are often confronted with socio-economic challenges that prevent them from finishing college.
“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,” said U.S. News & World Report.
In addition to assessing graduation rates of Pell-awarded students, the social mobility ranking factors also considered the graduation rates of first-generation college students.
“We are encouraged by the rankings that consistently acknowledge the work WSSU is doing to foster student success, which is a goal of our strategic plan,” said WSSU Chancellor Anthony Graham. “The primary reason our students are matriculating here is to improve their economic growth opportunities upon graduation, elevating not only their individual upward social mobility but also changing the trajectory and status of their families.”
This year, U.S. News & World Report stated it removed five factors from the rankings: class size, faculty with terminal degrees, alumni giving, high school class standing and the proportion of graduates who borrowed federal loans.
“For 40 years, students and their families have come to count on ‘Best Colleges’ as a vital resource as they navigate one of the most important decisions of their lives,” says Eric Gertler, executive chairman and CEO of U.S. News. “The significant changes in this year’s methodology are part of the ongoing evolution to make sure our rankings capture what is most important for students as they compare colleges and select the school that is right for them.”
About Winston-Salem State University: Winston-Salem State University fosters the creative thinking, analytical problem-solving, and depth of character needed to transform the world. Rooted in liberal education, WSSU’s curriculum prepares students to be thought leaders who have the skills and knowledge needed to develop innovative solutions to complex problems. Founded in 1892, WSSU is a historically Black constituent institution of the University of North Carolina with a rich tradition of contributing to the social, cultural, intellectual, and economic growth of North Carolina, the region, and beyond. Guided by the motto, “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve,” WSSU develops leaders who advance social justice by serving the world with compassion and commitment.
