Posted on Monday, September 23, 2024
¾¨Ó㴫ý remains a top leader among colleges in the country that are committed to improving students’ ability to move up the economic ladder, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges rankings released today. In the guide, ¾¨Ó㴫ý earned a No. 22 spot in the “Top Performers on Social Mobility” list while climbing four spots to the No. 108 overall ranking in the publication’s National Liberal Arts Colleges category.
This is the sixth consecutive year ¾¨Ó㴫ý has appeared in the Social Mobility Top 25 list, which highlights schools most successful at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating economically disadvantaged students.
“Since our 1852 founding, ¾¨Ó㴫ý has been committed to providing a quality affordable education, so we are particularly pleased with our social mobility and overall rankings,” said ¾¨Ó㴫ý President Dr. Kathy Brittain Richardson. “We strive to provide access to all students, regardless of their economic background, and believe that the transformative education a student receives at ¾¨Ó㴫ý provides a foundation for future success.”
¾¨Ó㴫ý recently unveiled a new program to make a ¾¨Ó㴫ý education tuition-free for some students. Starting in the fall of 2025, first-year and transfer students from Pennsylvania who have at least a 3.0 weighted GPA and a total family income of $75,000 or less will be considered for the ¾¨Ó㴫ý Advantage Scholarship, which will bridge the gap between applied state and federal grants, including Pell Grants, and other scholarships and aid and the balance of ¾¨Ó㴫ý’s tuition.
Additionally, special programming such as the College’s TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) is also available to make a ¾¨Ó㴫ý education accessible. First-generation, income-eligible students and students with disabilities have access to services and resources to help them successfully navigate their college education. Services and resources include academic tutoring, academic success and wellness coaching to promote classroom achievement and personal wellbeing, support for learning and other disabilities and career and college mentoring.
The U.S. News’ Best Colleges 2025 edition evaluated 1,497 accredited colleges and universities on up to 17 measures of academic quality and placed an emphasis on social mobility and outcomes for graduating college students.
“For 40 years, Best Colleges has continued to evolve as a trusted companion to prospective students and their families during the decision-making process,” said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor for Education at U.S. News. “The rankings and editorial content offer crucial data as well as college advice and informed reporting to all who seek a college education.”
U.S. News ranks schools in four categories – National Liberal Arts Colleges, National Universities, Regional Colleges and Regional Universities. ¾¨Ó㴫ý falls in the National Liberal Arts classification.
To see all of U.S. News’ Best College Rankings and Lists, click here.
