LACEY, Wash. – Saint Martin’s University ranked No. 32 (tie) for Top Performers on Social Mobility among Regional Universities in the West in the 2024 Best Colleges Rankings by U.S. News & World Report. This recognition is up 20 spots from last year’s No. 52 rank.
“The jump from 52nd to 32nd demonstrates Saint Martin’s dedication to equip students with the knowledge, skills and opportunities for their future success,” shared Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Patty Lemon. “We empower students to shine and provide them with pathways toward greater social mobility.”
Social mobility refers to students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds having equal opportunities to access higher education and improve their economic and social status. To rank as a top performer in social mobility, an institution is measured on how well they graduate disadvantaged students receiving the federal Pell Grant.
"One of the core outcomes of a Catholic Benedictine, liberal arts education at Saint Martin's University is social mobility,” said Acting President Father Kilian Malvey, O.S.B. “We are committed to providing every student the skills to excel in academics and beyond, fostering their ability to make a positive impact on society.”
For the Regional Universities in the West category, Saint Martin’s also ranked No. 11 in Best Value; No. 33 in Best Regional Universities; and No. 25 in Best Colleges for Veterans. The Western region of universities includes institutions in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Rankings are determined by 16 measures of academic quality: first-year student retention; graduation rates; social mobility; class sizes; faculty resources; expert opinion; student excellence; alumni giving and other data. U.S. News & World Report defines regional universities as those offering a broad scope of undergraduate degrees and some master’s degrees.
Saint Martin’s University is an independent coeducational university, with undergraduate and graduate offerings, located on a wooded campus of more than 380 acres in Lacey, Washington. Established in 1895 by the Catholic Order of Saint Benedict, the University is one of 13 Benedictine colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, and the only one west of the Rocky Mountains. Saint Martin’s University empowers students to pursue a lifetime of learning and accomplishment through its 31 majors, 11 master’s programs, one doctorate program and seven certificate programs spanning the arts and sciences, business, counseling, education, engineering, nursing, and leadership. Saint Martin’s welcomes more than 1,300 undergraduate students and 250 graduate students from many ethnic and religious backgrounds to its Lacey campus, and more students to its extended campus located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
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