Muskingum University has ranked second among Ohio universities in Best Value Schools and second among Ohio universities in Top Performers in Social Mobility in the U.S. News & World Report 2022 rankings for the Regional Midwest.
“Muskingum University continues to focus on access to higher education and student success,” said President Susan S. Hasseler. “The rankings acknowledge the work we are doing and the excellent education we provide to our students.”
To determine which colleges and universities offer the best value for students, U.S. News & World Report factors academic quality and cost after accounting for total expenses and financial aid.
According to U.S. News & World Report, “only schools ranked in or near the top half of their categories are included because U.S. News considers the most significant values to be among colleges that are above average academically.”
Ninety-nine percent of the Muskingum undergraduate population receives financial aid, which is made possible through support from alumni and friends in addition to state and federal funds. With that financial aid, the cost to attend Muskingum is comparable to that of Ohio’s four-year public institutions.
Economically disadvantaged students are less likely than others to finish college. The top performers in Social Mobility rankings are given to schools that focus on economically disadvantaged students, by “enrolling and graduating students who received federal Pell Grants.”
Social mobility considers graduation rates for students who received federal Pell Grants, financial aid that is typically reserved for those with annual household family incomes below $50,000. Close to half of Muskingum’s undergraduate students are eligible for Pell Grants.
“Muskingum is providing a quality education for students who may not have otherwise been able to attend a private university,” said Hasseler. “At Muskingum, we educate the whole person for the whole world and are committed to ensuring that all students have the opportunity for this kind of education.”
The 2022 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings are in its 37th year. The latest edition assesses 1,466 United States bachelor’s degree-granting institutions on 17 measures of academic quality.
