U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in education rankings, today unveiled the 2021 U.S. News Best Colleges. For the first time in the College’s 40-year history, Villa Maria was included on two lists: Social Mobility and Best Regional College North.
Social Mobility
Economically disadvantaged students are less likely than others to finish college, even when controlling for other characteristics. 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. Out of 52 colleges and universities, Villa Maria College was ranked #16 in Social Mobility.
Best Regional Colleges North
These colleges focus on undergraduate education and grant fewer than half their degrees in liberal arts disciplines. These rankings are split into four regions: North, South, Midwest and West. Villa Maria College was ranked #43 in Best Regional Colleges North.
The Metrics
According to U.S. News, it uses 17 metrics to assess academic quality, with the greatest emphasis on outcomes, particularly a college’s ability to retain and graduate students. Other factors include class size, undergraduate academic reputation, and how much colleges spend on instruction and other educational investments. Schools reported most of the data used to compile these rankings to U.S. News in an annual survey and were instructed to confirm the accuracy of their data. The rankings data pertains to student and faculty cohorts that predate the coronavirus pandemic, and thus the impact of COVID-19 on higher education is not reflected in how schools performed overall. The list, which includes more than 1,800 colleges and universities, ranks more than 1,400 institutions each year.
Villa Maria College provides students from all background with the opportunity to receive a personalized, hands-on education. Upon successfully completing all program coursework and an internship, the College’s graduates are prepared to enter the workforce and make an impact in their field. The College’s inclusion in the U.S. News’ national rankings for 2021 highlights the fact that all students who choose Villa Maria will receive a high-quality education in a diverse and highly supportive atmosphere.
To read the complete lists and learn more about how they are compiled, visit USNews.com.
