SUNY Fredonia has been named one of the nation’s “Best Colleges for Rural America,” a new ranking that recognizes colleges and universities in rural communities for their educational value, contributions to social mobility and connections to their regions.
The inaugural Washington Monthly ranking highlights institutions that offer an accessible, affordable path to a college degree and strong outcomes after graduation. It also considers how well universities prepare graduates for fields important to rural communities and whether those graduates remain in their home states.
Washington Monthly began with more than 1,000 rural institutions identified by the Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges. After excluding two-year, for-profit and highly selective institutions, the publication evaluated 225 four-year colleges and universities. SUNY Fredonia ranked No. 38 in the country.
“This recognition reflects the distinctive experience Fredonia offers as a university rooted in a rural community,” President Stephen H. Kolison Jr. said. “Our commitment to social mobility begins with access to a high-quality education and continues through the support and opportunities that help students succeed. Fredonia’s strong connections throughout Western New York enrich that education and prepare our graduates to make an impact in communities across the state.”
The ranking draws heavily on Washington Monthly’s measures of social mobility. Those include the percentage of students receiving federal Pell Grants, the net price paid by students from families with median incomes or below, student loan debt and graduates’ earnings. Fredonia’s performance reflects the university’s longstanding commitment to expanding access to higher education and helping students turn their degrees into opportunities after graduation.
Washington Monthly also considered the percentage of students from an institution’s home state, the share of alumni who remain in that state and the number of degrees awarded in fields that are in demand in rural communities.
Fredonia ranked 20th nationally for its percentage of in-state students, with 93 percent coming from New York State. The publication also reported that 66 percent of Fredonia alumni remain in the state after graduation.
In addition, 31 percent of Fredonia graduates earn degrees in fields Washington Monthly identified as especially important to rural communities, including education, health professions, social services and natural resources.
The complete Best Colleges for Rural America ranking and methodology are available on the Washington Monthly website.
