U.S. News & World Report continues to rank Southwestern Adventist University, located in Keene, Texas, as one of the top institutions regionally. Ranked #11 overall in Regional Colleges West and #2 for social mobility, SWAU continues to stand out amongst top-performing colleges and universities in the United States.

U.S. News & World Report utilizes 17 factors ranging from retention to social mobility and from campus life to alumni giving to compile the rankings. Higher education institutions are organized into 10 distinct rankings based on the academic mission. They are additionally categorized regionally into four geographical areas. SWAU’s #11 ranking in the west region is an accomplishment that compares it to top institutions across 15 states in the western U.S.

Social mobility contributes to 5 percent of the overall ranking and, for the past two years, has also been ranked in a separate category. The indicator measures the institution’s performance in graduating economically disadvantaged students who received federal Pell Grants. SWAU ranked #3 in the inaugural 2020 rankings and #2 in 2021. Financial support, academic development, and hands-on learning experiences contribute to this ranking.

“As an alum and a first-generation college student, it was very important for me to find an institution that not only provided me with the academic resources that I needed but also with the financial resources,” shares Emily Hernandez, SWAU biology graduate. “That’s exactly what I found at Southwestern. The financial department helped me find all the scholarships that they offered and the resources that I needed. The faculty and staff helped guide me throughout my education and pointed me toward resources that I could use after graduation to be successful.”

To learn more about how SWAU supports students regardless of their background or experience, watch the video below, which provides further information about the SWAU experience and about how the new Office of Student Success is improving academic and career success for students pursuing a successful future.

This article was originally published on the North American Division’s news site