U.S. News & World Report on Monday ranked Portland State University the top school in Oregon for graduating students that receive federal Pell Grants for its Best Colleges Rankings 2020.
The ranking is part of a new U.S. News category known as Top Performers on Social Mobility, which measures how well schools graduated students who received Pell Grants during a six-year period. Out of 186 schools that were ranked nationally in this category, PSU ranked No. 26.
"Social mobility speaks to the heart of Portland State's mission to provide access and quality education to students," PSU President Stephen Percy said. "Our high ranking in this category tells us we are on a successful track to help students obtain a college degree to prepare them for meaningful careers."
U.S. News also ranked PSU No. 9 nationally in the student success category in the program area of service learning or community service. Like other schools, PSU’s curriculum requires students to complete projects in the community as part of their coursework.
“This recognition is deeply gratifying,” PSU Provost Susan Jeffords said. “Even more gratifying is witnessing the transformation in our students and their families as they put their degrees to work in our community. In the coming years, PSU is doubling down on its unwavering commitment to student success.”
For the student success rankings, U.S. News surveyed college presidents, chief academic officers and admission deans. They were asked to nominate up to 15 institutions in program areas such as service learning, first-year experience, learning communities, senior capstone, co-op/internship, undergraduate research/creative projects, study abroad and writing in the disciplines.
The top universities in the social mobility category are No. 1 UC Riverside; No. 2 UC Santa Cruz; No. 3 UC Irvine; and four schools tied at No. 4, Howard University, Rutgers University Newark and University of La Verne.
Other Oregon universities that were ranked in social mobility are George Fox University at No. 80; Oregon State University at No. 176; and Pacific University at No. 186.