WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. Sept. 12, 2022 — West Liberty University moved up significantly in the important category of Social Mobility, as ranked by the U.S. News and World Reports Best Colleges annual publication that evaluates colleges and universities nationally each fall.
Released online on Monday, Sept. 12, the rankings evaluate data on more than 1,800 schools. (See usnews.com/best-colleges.)
“This category of evaluation is an important one for students since it measures and ranks student success for those facing economic challenges. West Liberty University faculty, staff and administrators can be proud to serve as a regional leader for students seeking a degree under challenging circumstances,” said Dr. W. Franklin Evans, WLU president.
WLU moved up to the #12 spot from the #30 slot last fall and is the top West Virginia school ranked for Social Mobility, Regional University South.
According to U.S. News, “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.”
Now in its 38th year, these rankings include many other categories.
U.S. News uses overall college rankings in four categories: National Universities, National Liberal Arts Colleges, Regional Universities and Regional Colleges, then further delineates by regions and categories. Criteria is established through an annual U.S. News statistical report survey, completed by most colleges.
U.S. News publishes the rankings with its datasets in the “Best Colleges 2023” guidebook, which will start shipping in early October and be available in bookstores shortly thereafter.
West Liberty University is West Virginia’s first institution of higher education, established in 1837, and offers nearly 70 undergraduate majors and 30 programs, along with a growing number of graduate degree paths that are delivered both online and in-seat.
For more information on WLU, please call 1.866.WESTLIB. To apply online, please click here.