AU ranked among top regional universities by U.S. News & World Report
09/14/2020 ASHLAND, Ohio – Ashland University has once again been recognized as a top regional university in the U.S. News & World Report 2021 Best Colleges edition. AU appears twice in the rankings, in the top third top among regional universities in the Midwest and also in the top third on the Midwest regional universities list for social mobility.
AU earned the 51st spot in the 12-state Midwest region. The publication defines “regional universities” as those that “offer the full range of undergraduate programs and some master’s programs, but few doctoral programs.”
The regional social mobility list – on which Ashland University was 44th – denotes universities that excel at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students receiving Pell Grants. The vast majority of these federal grants are awarded to students whose adjusted gross family incomes are under $50,000.
“We are very pleased that U.S. News & World Report has again recognized Ashland University as one of the top national universities in the region,” said Dr. Carlos Campo, president of Ashland University. “We believe this recognition is a reflection of the University’s continued commitment to providing its students with an impressive balance of educational, social and extracurricular activities.”
Campo said that Ashland was “especially proud” of its social mobility ranking, which reflects the university’s serious commitment to access and affordability. “Ashland’s founders valued education, and wanted it to be within reach for all students. We work hard to create an educational experience that is high quality and an excellent investment,” he said.
The U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges package represents a look at nearly 1,800 accredited four-year schools compared on a set of 16 widely accepted indicators of excellence. Among the many factors weighed in determining the rankings are: peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving, and graduation rate performance.
Ashland University is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.###