August 24, 2015
UW remains No. 7 in Washington Monthly ranking; named ‘best bang for the buck’ among universities in the west
For the second consecutive year, the University of Washington held the No. 7 spot in the nation in Washington Monthly’s annual College Guide, which rates universities on students’ social mobility, civic engagement and research.
Washington Monthly also rates colleges that are doing the best job of helping lower-income students attain marketable degrees at affordable prices, and named the UW No. 1 on its “best bang for the buck” western region list.
“The UW is proud to be a public university and to serve students from all over Washington and from all backgrounds,” Interim President Ana Mari Cauce said. “Great universities create opportunity for their students and for their community. This is at the core of our public mission, and we are honored that our strong dedication to access and student success is recognized. It’s a testament to the dedication of our faculty and staff, and the energy and drive of our students.”
In its second year at the No. 7 spot, the UW maintains its highest ranking since Washington Monthly, a biweekly nonprofit magazine covering politics, government, culture and the media, began releasing them in 2005. The previous high was No. 8 in 2012.
The ranking’s three metrics are weighted equally. The “social mobility” criteria is based on the number of students receiving Pell grants; the actual graduation rate compared to the predicted graduation rate; and the net price of attending the university, after subtracting need-based financial aid. The research component consists of dollars spent on research, number of graduates going on to receive a doctorate, the number of science and engineering doctoral degrees awarded, faculty receiving prestigious awards, and the number of faculty who are members of the National Academies. Finally, civic engagement is measured by the number of students in ROTC and alumni going on to serve in the Peace Corps; federal work-study funding that goes to community service; and other measures demonstrating the university’s commitment to supporting staff, students and scholarship efforts around community service.
The UW’s financial aid and affordability efforts are bolstered by the Husky Promise, which guarantees to cover the cost of tuition for qualified students from the state of Washington who otherwise could not afford to attend. In 2014-15, nearly 10,000 undergraduates from across the state were covered by the Husky Promise. Also, about 27 percent of UW undergraduates will be the first in their families to graduate from college.
UW Bothell (No. 13) and UW Tacoma (No. 22) were also named to the “best bang for the buck” list among schools in the west.
