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Also named a best value, top performer on social mobility
MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (Sept. 9, 2019) — In the U.S. News & World Report 2020 “Best Colleges” report released today, Milligan jumped 10 spots to No. 13 among the “Best Regional Universities” in the South. Milligan was one of only three Tennessee schools to rank among the top 15 in any category.
Milligan also was ranked in two additional categories among regional universities in the South. The college ranked No. 4 in the “Best Value Schools” category, rising two spots from last year. In a new category, U.S. News ranked Milligan No. 43 among “Top Performers on Social Mobility.”
U.S. News’ methodology is informed by a variety of metrics that gage student success. Milligan’s retention and graduation rates remained well above other private colleges and state universities. Also, nearly 100 percent of Milligan graduates are employed or in graduate school within one year of earning their degree.
“Milligan strives for high quality and affordability, all while championing our core values of scholarship, community and faith,” said Milligan President Dr. Bill Greer. “With a commitment to small class sizes and personalized attention, these rankings are a testament to our faculty and staff’s dedication to helping every student succeed.”
Milligan’s No. 4 ranking in “Best Value Schools” is based on the college’s ratio of academic quality to price, need-based aid, and percentage of need-based scholarships and grants that offset total cost. The higher the academic quality and the lower the actual cost, the better the deal, according to U.S. News.
The total cost of a Milligan education is $7,400 below the national average for private colleges. Additionally, Milligan students’ average federal loan debt at graduation is $3,000 below the national average.
The new “Top Performers on Social Mobility” category measures each school’s success in graduating students who receive federal Pell Grants, primarily students whose household incomes are less than $50,000 annually.
The most complete version of U.S. News’ exclusive new rankings, data, tables and lists—including extensive statistical profiles for each school and a search tool to enable prospective students and parents to find the college that best fits their needs—is available online at www.usnews.com/colleges.