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Stan State earns another accolade for social mobility
stan state accolade
U.S. News and World Report put Stanislaus State No. 3 in the nation for social mobility — how well colleges and universities attract, retain and help students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds complete their degrees and graduate into promising careers. - photo by Photo courtesy of Stanislaus State

Stanislaus State continued to garner national acclaim this week when U.S News and World Report released its annual collegiate rankings last week.

Less than a month after the university was ranked No. 2 in the nation for social mobility by the Wall Street Journal, U.S. News and World Report put CSUS No. 3 in the nation for social mobility — how well colleges and universities attract, retain and help students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds complete their degrees and graduate into promising careers. 

The Wall Street Journal had Stan State ranked No. 18 overall and No. 9 for public universities.

U.S. News and World Report put CSUS in the top for three other categories: Top Public Schools (No. 5), Best Colleges for Veterans (No. 8) and Regional Universities (No. 10). “We are incredibly honored by U.S. News and World Report’s latest rankings,” said CSUS President Britt Rios-Ellis. “They truly capture the heart of what we do at Stanislaus State. It’s inspiring to see our commitment to academic excellence and student success as an Hispanic- and minority-serving institution being recognized on this level.”

This year, the magazine introduced Best Value School into its rankings, and Stanislaus State was 13th nationally in that category.

“A Stan State education provides an exceptional return on investment, offering a transformative experience that facilitates student and community empowerment,” Rios-Ellis said. “As our students rise and thrive, they create a lasting impact on their families, their chosen fields and their communities. Being recognized as an overall best university, as well as for social mobility and public impact, underscores our role as an anchor institution in the Central Valley. I couldn’t be prouder of our Warrior community.”

This is the 42nd year that U.S. News and World Report has released its annual collegiate rankings in an effort to assist college-bound students explore and evaluate universities. The rankings are based on a variety of factors, including graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, financial resources, and peer reviews. 

In August, CSUS was ranked fourth for “Best Bang for the Buck” in Washington Monthly’s College Guide and Rankings.

UC Merced also fared well in the U.S. News and World Report rankings, rising to the 26th best public school in the nation. Among all universities, UC Merced came in at No. 58.

UC Merced was ranked No. 3 in social mobility, after being rated No. 1 in the country for social mobility by the Wall Street Journal, and also garnered the No.18 position overall and No. 5 among public institutions.

“Once again, UC Merced is being recognized as a leader in charting its own path – buoyed by a quest for knowledge and innovation that are hallmarks of the UC system, as well as its mission of facilitating access and opportunity for historically underserved populations,” UC Merced Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz said.

Another strong point for UC Merced was the comparison of graduation rates between the university’s Pell Grant recipients and non-Pell Grant recipients. The closer these two percentages are to being equal, the more a school was rewarded. UC Merced is one of only four universities in the Top 100 that has a Pell-eligible graduate rate higher than that of the non-Pell group.

UC Merced also scored high marks in the “graduation rate performance” category. To calculate this, U.S. News and World Report compares its predicted graduation rate for a cohort of students with the actual graduation rate. The predicted rate is based on multiple factors, including the percentages of the cohort that is Pell-eligible and in the top 10 percent of their high schools. The more the actual rate exceeds the predicted rate, the better the score.

UC Merced’s graduation rate surpassed the predicted rate by 26 percentage points.

“A culture of student success has taken root here,” said Muñoz. “And as the first research university built in the 21st century, UC Merced continues to redefine what postsecondary opportunity and excellence looks like.”

Rep. John Duarte (R-Modesto), who is seeking reelection in District 13 this fall against former Assemblymember Adam Gray (D-Merced), rose to speak in the House on Tuesday, praising Stanislaus State, UC Merced and Fresno State, which was ranked No. 4 in the Wall Street Journal’s social-mobility rankings.

“These universities embody the American Dream,” said Duarte. “They empower first-generation Americans to work hard, get good jobs and improve their lives. … Sending a student to one these schools is a dream for so many families in the Valley because we know how they change lives. Today on the House floor, we honor their impact, their dedication and their relentless pursuit of excellence.”