SWAU’s Social Mobility

KEENE, TEX. – US News & World Report continues to rank Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) as a top institution. Ranked once again at #2 for social mobility within the Regional Colleges West, SWAU continues to stand out amongst top performing colleges and universities in the United States.

US News & World Report utilizes 17 factors to compile the rankings. Higher education institutions are organized into 10 distinct rankings based on academic mission. For the past three years, social mobility has been ranked as a distinct category. The indicator measures an institution’s performance in graduating economically disadvantaged students who received federal Pell Grants. 

SWAU ranked #3 in the inaugural 2020 rankings, #2 for 2021 and once again ranks #2 for 2022. Financial support, academic development and hands-on learning experiences contribute to this ranking.

“Beyond a ranking, social mobility closes the gap of inequity by providing resources, access and support for students to thrive,” shares Ana Patterson, president. “One example of SWAU’s success is that 32 percent of our 2021 graduating class identified themselves as being the first in their family to graduate from college. That is a statistic to be proud of!”

By Tim Kosaka

Director of Marketing and Public Relations