Xavier University of Louisiana named the highest-ranking HBCU in terms of Return on Investment

New Orleans, LA -- Annually, the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce rank colleges and universities by return on investment. This year, more than 4,500 institutions were ranked using a new metric that measures the share of students at an institution whose earnings 10 years after enrollment are higher than those of workers with a high school diploma as their highest level of education. According to the report, Xavier University of Louisiana is the highest-ranking HBCU regarding students’ 15, 30, and 40-year return on investment (ROI).

Return on investment is described as a performance measure used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment or compare the efficiency of several investments. Xavier University provides students with a quality education in addition to the added monetary value. Widely recognized as a leader in STEM with the most African American medical school graduates and a highly ranked College of Pharmacy, Xavier recently added several innovative programs. It established a degree in robotics and mechatronics engineering, graduate programs for genetic counseling and health informatics, is in the process of reinstating the performing arts program to serve a wider variety of student interests and is continuously expanding academic offerings.

Xavier University of Louisiana, with less than 4,000 total students enrolled, ranked higher than all other HBCUs with a 40-year net present value of $1,098,000. Overall, Xavier ranked #761 in 40-year net present value; tied with large, public state colleges more than twice its size; The University of Tampa, home to more than 10,000 students and the University of Arkansas, with more than 29,000 students enrolled last year both tied with Xavier. In Louisiana, Xavier ranks top three in schools awarding baccalaureate degrees, following Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College with more than 35,000 students and Tulane University with more than 14,000 students.

“Xavier’s legacy speaks for itself,” said Xavier University President, Reynold Verret. “Our graduates and their success are a testament to the power of a Xavier education. Xavierites’ achievements and success are not just a benefit to that individual, but a benefit to the larger community that they are contributing to and the nation.”

Georgetown University states that an average of 60 percent of college students across institutions earn more than a high school graduate after 10 years. However, at 30 percent of schools, more than half of their students earn less than a high school graduate 10 years after enrollment. Their research indicates that these low earnings may relate to low graduation rates and disparities in earnings by gender, race and ethnicity.

Not only do Xavierites see a return on their Xavier education investment, but the education received by Xavier students is proven to elevate students’ lives after graduation. Recently, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) named Xavier University of Louisiana the most successful HBCU in terms of upward mobility. The study of social mobility outcomes showed that HBCUs help more than twice as many students rise from the bottom 40% of income earners to the top 60% category.

“We will continue to leverage our rich history and record of success, and use our uniqueness to challenge boundaries, engage traditional and new audiences, advance knowledge pursuits, and be leaders for a more just and humane society,” added President Verret. “We are being called by the nation to produce more and investments are needed to double our impact. Xavier University of Louisiana is a catalyst for positive change, and we will keep spreading Xavier’s mission throughout the nation and the world.”

Xavier University of Louisiana was founded on the principle of educating those with limited access and opportunity. Xavier is the nation’s only Catholic HBCU with a mission rooted in the values taught by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Xavier graduates pursue careers in medicine, law/policy, media, art, and more—shaping history in each industry. These rankings serve as a testament to the quality education provided at Xavier University of Louisiana.

About Xavier University of Louisiana

Xavier University of Louisiana, America’s only historically Black and Catholic University, is ranked among the top three HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) in the nation. Recognized as a national leader in STEM and health sciences, Xavier produces more African American students who graduate from medical schools each year than any other university in the United States. Additionally, Xavier’s College of Pharmacy is also among the top producers of African American pharmacists in the country.

Established in 1925, by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament as a place for African Americans and Native Americans to receive a quality education, Xavier has since expanded its programs in art, business, education, biological sciences, chemistry, pharmacy, and political science. More recent additions in robotics, bioinformatics, engineering, data science, neuroscience, and genetics, in addition to new STEM-based master’s programs, have provided Xavier students (2815 undergraduates and 787 graduates) an unbeatable combination of traditional classroom study, hands-on research, service-learning opportunities, and life experiences. Xavier students collaborate with world-renowned faculty, who are experts in their fields, to produce award-winning research and notable work. The winning Xavier formula is to provide students with a well-balanced curriculum and an environment that nurtures their intellect and feeds their souls, thereby facilitating a more just and humane society for all. For more information about Xavier University of Louisiana, visit us online at www.xula.edu or contact Chelsea Cunningham at (504) 520-5425 or ccunnin@xula.edu.