ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA — Winthrop University moved to fifth place – its highest ranking ever – among public universities in the South, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 edition of “Best Colleges.”
Winthrop also moved up as an institution that is rated among the top five in the south for veterans; is now a top performer on social mobility; and rose to 11th place among regional public and private universities in the South, according to rankings released on Sept. 18.
President Edward Serna ’02 said third-party endorsements such as U.S. News give the institution a chance to see how it is perceived by others. “With Winthrop receiving its highest ranking since these rankings were introduced over 40 years ago, this shows us that this university is on the rise and that people recognize our value, our commitment to academics and the overall university experience.”
Several institutional initiatives are underway at Winthrop, which started its 138th academic year this fall. According to Serna, there are new academic programs being introduced based on market demand, facilities and infrastructure enhancements that are underway across most areas of campus, and a new strategic plan in the works that will serve as a blueprint for the next several years.
“We are proud to offer a Winthrop experience where students can follow and accomplish their dreams, whether they are traditional, transfer, legacy, first-generation or non-traditional students. The Winthrop experience remains a good value and a great investment, and we’re proud that our peers and constituents continue to recognize us as one of the best.”
Winthrop stood out among the newsmagazine’s Best Regional Universities in the South in the following categories:
*Rose from 6th to 5th in Top Public Schools.
*Rose from 6th to 5th in Best Colleges for Veterans.
*Rose from 18th to 11th in overall rank.
*Rose from 19th to 13th place for social mobility, which measures how well schools
graduated students who received federal Pell Grants (those typically coming from households
whose family incomes are less than $50,000 annually).
*Rose from 40th to 33rd place as a Best Value.
*Ranked among the best undergraduate business programs.
*Ranked among the best undergraduate computer science programs.
U.S. News & World Report has published its “Best Colleges” rankings since 1983. The
rankings can be used as a starting point for families searching for the best educational
experience for their student.
The high ranking comes at a time when U.S. News has overhauled its criteria and dropped several previously used ranking factors. Its methodology statement said this year it placed more emphasis on outcome measures and data that was universally reported.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at 803/323-2404 or e-mail her at longshawj@winthrop.edu.
