Āé¶¹ĪŽĀė°ę

Āé¶¹ĪŽĀė°ę Ranked No. 1 in the Nation for Social Mobility, No. 18 Overall

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September 4, 2024
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Āé¶¹ĪŽĀė°ę was named the nation's top school for social mobility and No. 18 overall in the Wall Street Journal's latest ranking of America's Best Colleges.

When it comes to changing the lives of its students, Āé¶¹ĪŽĀė°ę is second to none.

In the latest America's Best Colleges rankings, Āé¶¹ĪŽĀė°ę was the No. 1 university in the nation for social mobility — aĀ term used to describe how well colleges and universities attract, retainĀ and help students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds complete their degrees and graduate into promising careers.

A perennial top fiveĀ university in this category, Āé¶¹ĪŽĀė°ę is nowĀ recognized as the prime example of how a school can provide students, especially those who are historically underserved, with a chance for better lives and brighter futures.

In the overall rankings, Āé¶¹ĪŽĀė°ę was named the 18th-best university in the nation – up fromĀ 59thĀ last year. The university also climbed 10 spots from last year amongĀ public institutions to claim the No. 5 position.

ā€œAt Āé¶¹ĪŽĀė°ę, we routinely say that we don’t do what we do for rankings, but when you excel others will always take notice,ā€ said Chancellor Juan SĆ”nchez MuƱoz. ā€œWe hope this recent acknowledgment will be yet another opportunity for people to learn about the exceptional culture of student success that has taken root at Āé¶¹ĪŽĀė°ę. Year after year, we are delivering on our promise of access, excellence, and opportunity for the students who choose to attend Āé¶¹ĪŽĀė°ę.ā€

In the annual report, the Wall Street Journal — in collaboration with research partners College Pulse and Statista — examines several factors including student outcomes, the learning environment and diversity. The social mobility rankings also take into consideration the proportion of students coming from lower-income families, graduation rates, impact on graduate salaries and affordability.

Almost 60% of the student body at Āé¶¹ĪŽĀė°ę are Pell-eligible and 65% are first-generation. Students in these categories face unique challenges, so providing readily accessible resources is vital to ensure their success. Crucial to this work is making contact before they stepĀ foot on campus, which requires strategic outreach to school districts.

Āé¶¹ĪŽĀė°ę’s (CEP) was created for thisĀ reason. CEP works with K-12 sites throughout the Central Valley to advance college and career readiness at middle and high schools. Parents are also engaged in an effort to empower them to clearly understand the college application and financial aid processes.

Once they become Bobcats, students continue to receive support services at Āé¶¹ĪŽĀė°ę through the, where a holistic approach is taken to academic success. Connection to the campus and fellow students is stressed to instill a sense of belonging, and regular check-ins are conducted to measure student progress. The offers elevated support and includes a living and learning community for first-year students.

Another way Āé¶¹ĪŽĀė°ę nourishes upward mobility is by partnering with organizations such as that have proven success when it comes to student outcomes. Students involved in these multi-year programs are better equipped to handle the academic, financial, social and emotional rigors of higher education.

ā€œĀé¶¹ĪŽĀė°ę is redefining post-secondary opportunity and excellence,ā€ said MuƱoz. ā€œFor far too long, lower-income students, including those from our region, were told that a UC education was unattainable. But thanks to the tireless work of our faculty and staff, as well as our partners and supporters, that is no longer the case.ā€Ā 

Brenda Ortiz

Senior Public Information Representitive

Office: (209) 228-4203

Mobile: (209) 628-8263

bortiz@ucmerced.edu