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Posted: 9/12/19

TAMIU Scores High on Social Mobility in 2020 US News and World Report’s Best Colleges Rankings

 

Dr. Pablo Arenaz
Dr. Pablo Arenaz, President  

Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) is the highest-ranked regional university in the Texas A&M University System among Regional Universities West and has been singled out as a top performer on social mobility in U.S. News and World Report’s 2020 Best Colleges edition. 

The new social mobility ranking, dubbed “Top Performers on Social Mobility,” looked at 113 schools and ranked TAMIU 14thin the nation, the highest-ranked A&M System campus.              

Of 42 ranked schools, TAMIU was ranked 23rdamong Top Public Schools Regional Universities West.  Of 1,921 universities assessed and 128 considered in the Best Regional Universities West category, TAMIU was ranked 58th, the second-highest ranked regional state university in Texas. On both regional rankings, TAMIU was also the highest ranked of A&M System regional campuses.

Of social mobility, the authors note “Economically disadvantaged students are less likely than others to finish college…But some colleges are more successful than others at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants.”

TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz said the social mobility ranking is especially compelling.

“As we celebrate our 50thAnniversary this year, we share the broad spectrum of ways that the University creates an impact.  There can truthfully  be no greater impact than to know that you have helped to empower a graduate to advance their social mobility and earning potential dramatically and measurably. This has been borne out in other research by Stanford University’s  Equality of Opportunity Project and affirms our service mission and our challenge to ‘Go Beyond,’ ” Dr. Arenaz said. 

On the social mobility ranking, TAMIU topped some impressive peers including Trinity University, 100; St. Edward’s University, 34, and St. Mary’s University, 22.

Of the Best Regional Universities West ranking TAMIU led System peers including Tarleton State University at 70, TAMU-Texarkana and West Texas A&M University at 75 and Prairie View A&M University at 87. 

For the Top Public Schools Regional Universities West, TAMIU bested Tarleton at 31 and TAMU-Texarkana and Prairie View at 35. 

Earlier this month, for the fifth year in row, TAMIU was ranked in the Top Ten of Washington Monthly’s Best Bang for the Buck Southern Colleges 2019 College Rankings.  TAMIU ranked sixth.

Arenaz concluded that rankings are indeed useful indicators, and can be an important part  in any student’s or family’s research into university selection. 

“We’re very pleased to figure strongly in this and other rankings and ratings. They help students and their families research higher education destinations.  We urge their consideration, but strongly believe that students and their families should always visit campuses like TAMIU to meet with faculty and students, and determine support systems in place that are dedicated to their success,” Dr. Arenaz said.

For additional information, contact the TAMIU Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 956.326.2180, email prmis@tamiu.edu, click on tamiu.edu or visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 268.

TAMIU is celebrating its 50th anniversary and its 25th anniversary at its north Laredo campus throughout 2019-2020.  A dedicated website shares the University’s transformation from a hybrid upper-level university to a full doctoral degree-granting University. It includes a calendar of Anniversary events and more at tamiu.edu/50.

For more on the University’s story, contact the TAMIU Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 956.326.2180, email prmis@tamiu.edu, click on tamiu.edu, follow social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube, or visit offices in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 268.