News

U.S. News & World Report ranks Xavier sixth best in Midwest

University also ranks first in freshman retention, third in graduation rate

08/22/03

For the ninth straight year, Xavier University ranks among the top 10 Midwest colleges and universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report rankings released Friday, Aug. 22. Xavier ranked sixth best overall among the Midwest’s 139 master’s-level colleges and universities. The 2004 issue of America’s Best Colleges hits newsstands Monday, Sept. 1.

With a rate of 89 percent, Xavier scored higher in the freshman retention category than every other master’s-level college and university in the region. Xavier also placed third best in highest graduation rate—one of three key criteria used by U.S. News to judge schools—with a score of 72 percent, just 4 percentage points behind the leader in that category, Cleveland’s John Carroll University.

U.S. News & World Report determines its rankings by looking at 11 categories, including graduation rate, freshman retention, acceptance rate, student/faculty ratio, student test scores and alumni giving. Of a possible 100 points, Xavier scored 87.

“We are once again honored to find ourselves near the top of the list among universities in the Midwest,” says President Michael J. Graham, S.J. “I am especially pleased to see this recognition in regard to our graduation rate. Our goal is to form students intellectually, morally and spiritually with rigor and compassion toward lives of solidarity and service. Our graduation rate suggests both that we are able to attract students who believe in that mission and that we are fulfilling it."

In all, 573 colleges and universities are ranked by region in the master’s category, which includes institutions that provide a full range of undergraduate and master’s programs, but few doctoral programs. Eighteen of the nation’s 28 Jesuit universities were honored with ranks in the master’s category. Ten of them, including Xavier, ranked in the top 10 in their respective regions. Two other Midwest Jesuit universities received high ranks with Xavier, including Creighton University, which ranked first, and John Carroll University at fourth.

Xavier has been ranked in the top 10 Midwest universities every year since the 1996 issue. A detailed report on scores may be found at www.usnews.com.