The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is one of the best universities in the nation at helping low-income students earn degrees.
That's according to Washington Monthly magazine, which has ranked UL Lafayette among the top 10 national universities in its social mobility category. The magazine's rankings measure, "what colleges are doing for the country," according to its website.
Since 2005, Washington Monthly has published annual rankings of four types of institutions: liberal arts colleges, baccalaureate colleges, master's universities and national universities.
Its rankings are based on three factors. The first is social mobility, which gives colleges credit for enrolling many low-income students and helping them earn degrees. The second recognizes research production, particularly at schools whose undergraduates go on to earn doctorates. The third is service.
The social mobility category measures the number of students who receive federal Pell Grants and their graduation rates. "The more expensive college becomes, the more students are encouraged to see higher education as a mere return on investment. The students in our best colleges are taught by example and design to look beyond themselves and give back," wrote the magazine on its site.
The University of Texas at El Paso was No. 1 in the social mobility category, which also included Arizona State University and Rutgers University in the top 10. The University of California, San Diego was rated best overall among 281 universities. UL Lafayette's overall ranking was 165.
Washington Monthly is nonprofit magazine covering United States politics and government that's based in Washington, D.C. Washington Monthly College Rankings focuses on key research outputs, the quality level and total dollar amount of scientific grants awarded, the number of graduates going on to earn doctoral degrees and the number of graduates that later participate in public service.