Xavier University of Louisiana has recently received multiple accolades and recognitions for its excellence in academic programming, inclusiveness, and opportunities for social mobility. The “Out with the Old, In With the New: Rating Higher Ed by Economic Mobility” report based on an Economic Mobility Index (EMI) found that Xavier is the #2 Historically Black College and Universities (HBCU) and one of the top universities in the nation in terms of offering economic mobility. Xavier was also ranked as one of the year’s best schools for earning a master’s degree online by the website OnlineMastersDegrees.org (OMD) and was announced as providing one of the top bachelor’s and master's degrees in Louisiana by the independent educational organization University Headquarters (University HQ).  

 

Third Way in Washington, D.C., a policy think tank, or a research institute that performs research and advocacy for contemporary issues, recently published a report ranking Xavier University of Louisiana as the #2 HBCU and among the top three percent of universities in the nation in terms of economic mobility. The report researched which institutions of higher education enroll the highest proportion of students from low- and moderate-income backgrounds and provides them with a strong return on their education investment.  

HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions were notably shown to provide the most economic mobility. The new metric also shows that many of the institutions seen on traditional college rankings do not offer much economic mobility, in large part because the population of low-income admissions is disproportionately low to begin with. 

Third Way used results from their Price-to-Earning Premium (PEP) metric analysis to establish their EMI. Their PEP metric was created by reviewing the average time that it would take students to recoup the cost of the education based off their earnings. Third Way then used the PEP metric to analyze the outcomes of low-income students at 1,320 undergraduate institutions and multiplied their comparative rank by the percentage of Pell Grant recipients enrolled at each institution. Their method builds on previous research findings focused on generational mobility and uses the return on investment that an average low-income student gets back after attending a higher education institution and earning their degree. 

Xavier graduates have a long history of excelling in their field, and the university was recently recognized by University Headquarters, an online resource that compiles comprehensive information about universities for prospective students. Their report ranks Xavier as offering one of the best bachelor’s degrees and master’s in the state of Louisiana, and listed Xavier as among the best schools for graduates securing careers in the humanities and natural sciences. 

University Headquarters uses data gathered from several government research publication sites to formulate their rankings. Points of reference include the cost of tuition, admission and retention rates, the number of diplomas awarded and graduation rates after four and six years, the number of programs and any online programs a school offers, the percentage of students who receive financial aid, any known alumni salaries, and the rates of loan default among graduates. They also take into consideration the university's reputation and expert opinions. Xavier’s history of excellence gives it a solid foundation that continues to grow with every graduate and each new program implemented. 

Xavier’s online master’s degree in counseling was also recently highlighted as one of the best in 2022 by OMD, an online support system for those pursuing master’s degrees. Its research-backed content helps students find scholarships, resources, financial aid, and connect with accredited colleges and universities across the country. 

OMD analyzed more than 7,700 schools using data from the U.S. Department of Education to determine rankings. Their data science team then created an algorithm to rank these schools in 70 unique master’s degree subjects. Six percent of postsecondary institutions earned a ranking position.  

To qualify, a school must hold active regional accreditation and have both academic counseling and career placement services available to students. The primary points of data considered include the number of online programs in the subject area; the number of online students; online program tuition and fees; the percentage of students offered institutional aid and the amount of institutional aid awarded per student.  

In addition to ranking online master’s programs in each subject overall, OnlineMastersDegrees.org developed individual category rankings. This helps prospective students identify which schools excel in the areas that matter the most to them. 

Xavier continues to expand its academic programming on behalf of its students while also committing to the advancement and knowledge of its faculty. These awards are symbolic of Xavier’s excellence and reflect the achievements Saint Katharine Drexel envisioned for Xavier University of Louisiana students.