U.S. News & World Report ranks Muskingum University as one of the top universities

NEW CONCORD – For the second year, Muskingum University is a top performer among Ohio universities in the U.S. News & World Report 2025 rankings for the Regional Midwest.

The university ranked first among Ohio universities in Best Value Schools and Social Mobility, and it ranked eighth and seventh, respectively in those categories, among all universities in the Regional Midwest.

“One of our institutional values is providing access for all learners to an affordable and exceptional educational experience that prepares them for a great future,” President Susan S. Hasseler said in a news release. “The rankings acknowledge the work we are doing to ensure all our students thrive.”

To determine which colleges and universities offer the best value for students, U.S. News & World Report factors academic quality and cost after accounting for total expenses and financial aid. According to the publication, “only schools ranked in or near the top half of their categories are included because U.S. News considers the most significant values to be among colleges that are above average academically.”

At Muskingum University, 100% of the undergraduate population receives financial aid, which is made possible through support received from alumni and friends of the university in addition to state and federal funds. With that financial aid, the cost to attend Muskingum is comparable to that of Ohio’s four-year public institutions.

The top performers in social mobility rankings are given to schools that focus on students who are from low-income backgrounds, by “enrolling and graduating students who received federal Pell Grants.”

Social mobility considers graduation rates for students who received federal Pell Grants, financial aid typically reserved for those with annual household family incomes below $50,000. Close to half of Muskingum’s undergraduate students are eligible for Pell Grants.

The 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings is in its 40th year. The latest edition assesses 1,500 U.S. bachelor’s degree-granting institutions on 17 key measures of academic quality for National Universities and 13 for National Liberal Arts Colleges , Regional Universities and Regional Colleges .

This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: U.S. News & World Report ranks Muskingum University as one of the top universities