"Diversity is our strength"

2022 U.S News Best Colleges Report names Mount Mary
#1 in Midwest for social mobility

Mount Mary tops the U.S. News and World Report rankings for successful outcomes in graduating diverse and low-income students among regional universities in the Midwest.

“Mount Mary’s diversity is our strength, and we are committed to making sure students of all backgrounds graduate,” said Director of Institutional Research LeeAnn Perkins. “Mount Mary ranks #1 for Top Performers on Social Mobility in the Midwest Regional Universities; this means while our students are economically diverse, our Pell students graduate at the same rate as our general student body.”

These rankings are reflective of both enrollment trends and Mount Mary’s deeper institutional initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion.

This fall, Mount Mary welcomed a record-breaking class of new incoming students, the largest class since 2000. In addition, overall enrollment has increased 4.7% since fall 2020.

According to the most recent institutional numbers, 83% of Mount Mary undergraduate students are either first-generation, Pell-eligible, or a person of color; 21% of students fall under all three categories.

Mount Mary has recently established an office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and named Vice President Julie Landry to oversee this office. The campus has also put new policies in place for minority and women-owned business contractors. Mount Mary has been awarded nearly $3 million in federal Title III grants focusing on equity and access. Additionally, the Trinity Woods community opening in fall will bring intergenerational living to campus.

“Mount Mary University is the choice for students and families seeking a University that embraces diversity and thrives on the uniqueness of its students and staff,” said Landry.

According to the 2022 U.S. News and World Report, Mount Mary University’s rankings include:

#1 SOCIAL MOBILITY: Mount Mary is ranked #1 among Midwest regional universities in this category, which measures the success rate of graduating Pell students based upon six-year graduation rates.

ETHNIC DIVERSITY: Mount Mary students have the highest probability of students at all regional colleges in the Midwest to encounter and study alongside people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds using a diversity index formula based on enrollment and ethnicity data.

ECONOMIC DIVERSITY: Mount Mary students also have the highest percentage of students in the Midwest among regional universities receiving federal Pell grants at the top-ranked schools. The report states: “U.S. News believes that Pell figures are the best available gauge of institutions’ relative commitment to access for all.”

#30 BEST VALUE: Affordability is measured by four indicators, the ratio of quality to price; the amount of need-based aid, the percent of need-based aid recipients awarded scholarships or grants; and the average discount. Mount Mary is #30 among regional universities in the Midwest.

BEST SCHOOLS: Mount Mary’s ranking has risen seven points since last year to #51 overall among regional universities in the Midwest.

“We are particularly pleased with our U.S. News and World Report rankings because they demonstrate progress on our strategic initiative to create a campus culture that cares for the personal and professional well-being of all students, employees, alumnae and guests,” said Mount Mary President Christine Pharr, Ph.D.

“Our success in these rankings signals that Mount Mary is a community that welcomes all!”