UofM Ranks Highest in State in Two WSJ/College Pulse Lists
Survey Asked College Students, Recent Grads about Student Experience, Social Mobility
September 13, 2024 — The University of Memphis ranks as the top institution of higher learning in Tennessee for student experience and social mobility, according to a recent Wall Street Journal/College Pulse project that surveyed verified college students and recent graduates.
In the category of Student Experience, the UofM ranks 43rd with an overall score of 67.7. It was the only university in Tennessee, public or private, to break into the Top 50. The category looked at the best colleges in the U.S. for a student to have a great experience at while attending.
"As we began another semester, it has been a privilege to witness students engage with one another on our vibrant campus," said Melinda Carlson, vice president for Student Affairs. "Creating a community of engagement where each UofM student can connect, belong, develop and thrive is central to our vision for the student experience."
In the Social Mobility category, the UofM ranks 98th with a score of 35.4., also above its Tennessee peers. The rankings list colleges in order of how much they enhance their students' social mobility, rewarding universities that take in the highest proportion of students coming from lower-income families, while maintaining high graduation rates and having a positive impact on graduate salaries and minimizing the costs of attending the college.
The UofM has a high percentage of students eligible for Pell grants and financial aid via FAFSA as well as a significant number of first-generation students, topics undertaken in the Ascend Strategic Plan. Goal 3 of Ascend addresses outcomes-focused academics, while Goal 2 creates opportunities to succeed by fostering an exciting, all-encompassing student experience that encourages students to persevere, grow and thrive. Results from the WSJ/College Pulse survey is proof that both goals are not just achievable but already within reach.
“Ascend, as it was envisioned, provides a roadmap for UofM student success as we prepare them for the workforce and graduate education,” said President Bill Hardgrave. “In addition to the rigorous academics the UofM offers, it is the soft skills and life skills that, when combined, produce mature and capable graduates who are ready for the next phase of their lives.”
The WSJ/College Pulse 2024 Best Colleges in the U.S. ranking rated the top 400 universities in the country. The ranking came out of one of the largest ever independent surveys, which was developed and executed in collaboration with the Wall Street Journal, College Pulse and Statista. The ranking of top colleges offers an outcomes-focused methodology.
The survey was hosted by College Pulse, which also surveyed students via their American College Student Panel™. The end product, which incorporates the survey results as well as data on student outcomes, was the WSJ/College Pulse Ranking.
WSJ/College Pulse Student Experience Rankings >
WSJ/College Pulse Student Mobility Rankings >
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