(NNPA)–For the eighth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has published a poll measuring the quality of the undergraduate education at historically black colleges and universities. And, for the eighth consecutive year, Howard University ranked second among the 69 schools surveyed in the magazine.
“We have a mission here at Howard, and that’s to provide a quality education and to graduate our students on time,” said the university’s President Wayne A.I. Frederick.
Spelman College in Atlanta topped the rankings, while Morehouse College, also in Atlanta, placed third, Hampton University in Virginia landed in the fourth spot, and Tuskegee University in Alabama finished fifth.
Xavier University of Louisiana, Fisk University in Tennessee, Florida A&M University, Claflin University in South Carolina, and North Carolina A&T State University rounded out the top 10. Morgan State University in Baltimore ranked 15th.
Officials at U.S. News & World Report said that, in order to be on the list, a school must currently be designated by the U.S. Department of Education as an HBCU.
Additionally, they must be an undergraduate baccalaureate-granting institution that enrolls primarily first-year, first-time students and must be a school that’s part of the publication’s 2015 Best Colleges rankings.
The ranking methodology includes factors like graduation and retention rates (22.5 percent), assessment of excellence (22.5 percent), faculty resources (20 percent), student selectivity (12.5 percent), financial resources (10 percent), graduation rate performance (7.5 percent) and alumni giving rate (5 percent).
Based on 2013 data, some of Howard’s key indicators are that it has an average freshman retention rate of 82.3 percent, that 42.1 percent of classes have fewer than 20 students, and that it has a student-faculty ratio of 8-to-1.
Earlier this year, Howard also ranked as a leading producer of Peace Corps volunteers, the first time that an HBCU had been named as one of the top volunteer-producing universities.
“The DNA of the Peace Corps is service,” said Frederick, 43. “Howard’s motto is Veritas et Utilitas, or truth and service, so this accolade really emphasizes the commitment of our students and alumni to service.”
Howard alumna Sheree Jackson, who graduated in 2010 from the school, which is located in Northwest, and now works as an English teacher in Armenia, said everyone should be proud of the many honors bestowed upon the HBCU.
“When I was at Howard University, I knew that at least one of my next steps after graduation had to include traveling internationally, working with and helping others,” said Jackson, 26. “I also knew that it would include being able to explore my interests in foreign languages and cultures.”
Also, HBCU Money, a web-based magazine profiling financial news and information on HBCUs, released its annual report earlier this year on the top 10 endowments at HBCUs. Howard topped that list, with more than $513 million in its endowment despite a drop of more than $20 million from the previous year.
In August, the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity presented Howard officials with a $500,000 endowment. “It’s a reflection on [Howard’s] glorious past and the enormous achievements it has attained to date,” said Jonathan Mason, international president of the fraternity.
“Howard University is a beacon of light,” Mason said. “All of the Phi Beta Sigma organization’s amazing accomplishments have shined at Howard.”
Special to the NNPA from The Washington Informer
Spelman College in Atlanta topped the rankings, while Morehouse College, also in Atlanta, placed third, Hampton University in Virginia landed in the fourth spot, and Tuskegee University in Alabama finished fifth.
Xavier University of Louisiana, Fisk University in Tennessee, Florida A&M University, Claflin University in South Carolina, and North Carolina A&T State University rounded out the top 10. Morgan State University in Baltimore ranked 15th.
Officials at U.S. News & World Report said that, in order to be on the list, a school must currently be designated by the U.S. Department of Education as an HBCU.
Additionally, they must be an undergraduate baccalaureate-granting institution that enrolls primarily first-year, first-time students and must be a school that’s part of the publication’s 2015 Best Colleges rankings.
The ranking methodology includes factors like graduation and retention rates (22.5 percent), assessment of excellence (22.5 percent), faculty resources (20 percent), student selectivity (12.5 percent), financial resources (10 percent), graduation rate performance (7.5 percent) and alumni giving rate (5 percent).
Based on 2013 data, some of Howard’s key indicators are that it has an average freshman retention rate of 82.3 percent, that 42.1 percent of classes have fewer than 20 students, and that it has a student-faculty ratio of 8-to-1.
Earlier this year, Howard also ranked as a leading producer of Peace Corps volunteers, the first time that an HBCU had been named as one of the top volunteer-producing universities.
“The DNA of the Peace Corps is service,” said Frederick, 43. “Howard’s motto is Veritas et Utilitas, or truth and service, so this accolade really emphasizes the commitment of our students and alumni to service.”
Howard alumna Sheree Jackson, who graduated in 2010 from the school, which is located in Northwest, and now works as an English teacher in Armenia, said everyone should be proud of the many honors bestowed upon the HBCU.
“When I was at Howard University, I knew that at least one of my next steps after graduation had to include traveling internationally, working with and helping others,” said Jackson, 26. “I also knew that it would include being able to explore my interests in foreign languages and cultures.”
Also, HBCU Money, a web-based magazine profiling financial news and information on HBCUs, released its annual report earlier this year on the top 10 endowments at HBCUs. Howard topped that list, with more than $513 million in its endowment despite a drop of more than $20 million from the previous year.
In August, the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity presented Howard officials with a $500,000 endowment. “It’s a reflection on [Howard’s] glorious past and the enormous achievements it has attained to date,” said Jonathan Mason, international president of the fraternity.
“Howard University is a beacon of light,” Mason said. “All of the Phi Beta Sigma organization’s amazing accomplishments have shined at Howard.”
Special to the NNPA from The Washington Informer
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