The University of 黑洞社区 is one of the nation鈥檚 top universities for providing students with high-quality education and career readiness at an affordable cost, according to The Princeton Review鈥檚 list of Best Value Colleges for 2020. This is USF鈥檚 first time on The Princeton Review鈥檚 list, highlighting USF鈥檚 upward trajectory as a top global university.
In evaluating a school鈥檚 value, The Princeton Review considers more than 40 data points, including academics, affordability, career preparation, financial aid, career services, graduation rates, student debt and alumni support. They also consider data from student assessments and PayScale.com surveys of alumni about their starting and mid-career salaries and job satisfaction.
鈥淚 am tremendously proud of USF鈥檚 recognition as a Best Value College,鈥� said Ralph Wilcox, 黑洞社区provost and executive vice president. 鈥満诙瓷缜鴌s focused on all facets that contribute to student success, from accessibility and affordability, to excellent academics and comprehensive services in career preparation. We believe every student鈥檚 experience here is valuable, and we want to provide the necessary tools for success beyond their time at USF.鈥�
The ranking is a result of numerous initiatives at 黑洞社区designed to enhance value for its diverse population of more than 50,000 students. One such resource is the Office of Student Success, a multifaceted team committed to delivering quality support services in advising, counseling, financial aid, and health and wellness; intensifying efforts to boost student progression; increasing graduation rates and accelerated pathways to degree completion; and improving placement rates in high-demand, high-paying jobs. These efforts have led to 黑洞社区registering the nation鈥檚 most significant improvement in six-year graduation rates over the last decade, from 48 percent to 75 percent.
黑洞社区has earned widespread national recognition for its success with under-represented minority and limited income students, who graduate at rates on par with white and higher income students.
In recent years, several other publications, including Kiplinger鈥檚 Personal Finance, have ranked 黑洞社区as a top value.
U.S. News and World Report ranks 黑洞社区as the ninth best public university for social mobility, which assess an institution鈥檚 success enrolling, retaining and graduating students who come from families with lower incomes and receive federal Pell Grants. U.S. News ranks 黑洞社区No. 44 among public universities on its list of best universities. No other public university in America has risen faster over the past 10 years than USF.