September 2013: Washington Monthly ranks ECSU #1

Washington Monthly ranks ECSU #1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE---For the second consecutive year, Washington Monthly ranked Elizabeth City State University No. 1 among baccalaureate colleges in the publication’s annual college guide. The rankings, listed in the September-October 2013 edition, are based on evaluations of 350 institutions in the category.

“Our rankings aim to identify institutions that are acting on behalf of the true public interest,” according to the publication’s editors in an explanation to readers.  They rated schools based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories – social mobility, research and service.

The rankings “give high marks to institutions that enroll low-income students, help them graduate and don’t charge them an arm and a leg to attend. Universities that bring in research dollars are rewarded by [our] standards, as are those whose undergraduates go on to earn Ph.D.s,” the editors wrote. 

ECSU Chancellor Charles Becton was delighted by the latest rating recognizing the university.

“Our students are our most precious commodity, so we are very pleased with this recognition by Washington Monthly. Retaining and graduating students with competitive credentials is one of ECSU’s top priorities,” Becton said. “We take pride in the fact that ECSU is still one of the most affordable institutions in the state. We hope this ranking by Washington Monthly will motivate prospective students to select ECSU as their institution of higher learning. We look forward to the arrival of additional, outstanding students.”

Founded in 1969, Washington Monthly covers politics, government, culture and the media. 

Several factors were considered in determining scores for the social mobility category. Those factors included the percentage of students receiving Pell Grants, which is a good measure of a school’s commitment to educating lower-income students; the predicted rate of graduation; and the net price of attending the institution.

In the research category, editors reviewed an institution’s total research expenditures. Another factor was the school’s ranking in the number of bachelor’s degree recipients who go on to receive Ph.D.s, relative to school size.

Several factors were reviewed for the service category, including the number of alumni who serve in the Peace Corps, relative to school size; the percentage of students who serve in ROTC; the percentage of funds in federal work-study money going to community service; and the number of academic courses that incorporate service.

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link  http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/toc_2013.php

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings_2013/baccalaureate_rank.php

Kesha Williams

Director of Media Relations| University Relations and Marketing

Elizabeth City State University

1704 Weeksville Rd. | Elizabeth City, NC  27909

Phone:  252.335.3686 | Fax:  252.335.3769

Email:  kdwilliams@mail.ecsu.edu | www.ecsu.edu