Marymount University gained 10 spots – from 53rd in 2016 to 43rd – in the top tier ranking among Regional Universities in the South in the 2017 edition of “Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. The 2017 Best Colleges rankings were announced September 13 to help students worldwide compare the academic quality of more than 1,800 U.S.-based schools. The U.S. News rankings focus on academic excellence, with schools ranked on up to 15 measures of academic quality. Overall, the rankings emphasize student outcomes – including graduation and retention rates – which carry the most weight at 30 percent.
New this year, U.S. News announced it made a change in the way it factors class size in the methodology. Rather than using two components for class size, U.S. News created one index measure that more accurately reflects the varying class sizes across campuses.
“Research has shown that smaller classes foster a productive and positive learning environment,” said Robert Morse, chief data strategist at U.S. News. “With this new index measure, U.S. News takes fuller advantage of the data schools provide, while still rewarding schools that make an effort to better serve their students with smaller classes.”
Marymount University President Matthew D. Shank noted, “We are very pleased that Marymount is again recognized and has risen in the rankings by U.S. News & World Report among regional colleges in the South. We are gratified that small class size is being considered as an example of excellence for 2017. With an average class size of 16, Marymount students gain extraordinary access to a mentoring relationship with their professors for undergraduate as well as graduate research, internship and networking opportunities. Our student success rates for graduation and career outcomes bear witness to the impact of small class size, which is a hallmark of a Marymount education.”
Second in Campus Ethnic Diversity
The Marymount campus ranked second for ethnic diversity among Regional Universities in the South for 2017. The U.S. News list identifies colleges where students are most likely to encounter undergraduates from racial or ethnic groups different from their own. Marymount’s undergraduate student body is comprised of individuals from 42 states and 66 countries.
Fifth in International Students
In the 2017 rankings for Regional Universities in the South, Marymount ranked fifth in percentage of international students (12 percent of total student population). The report notes that a strong global presence allows international students an opportunity to share culture and traditions with their U.S. peers. One of Marymount’s Common Ground tenets focuses on students developing a global perspective.
For a full list of 2017 rankings, visit https://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges
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Marymount University gained 10 spots – from 53rd in 2016 to 43rd – in the top tier ranking among Regional Universities in the South in the 2017 edition of “Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. It also ranked second for ethnic diversity and fifth in the percentage of international students.
