U.S. News & World Report Names St. Edward’s a Top Performer on Social Mobility in the West
AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward’s University has achieved the No. 5 ranking among the top-performing regional universities in the West for social mobility in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report rankings, climbing five spots from No. 10 last year. The recognition reflects the university’s commitment to providing students from economically diverse backgrounds with access to a transformative education and pathways to attain long-term career advancement.
The university also earned a new No. 3 ranking among Top Private Colleges in the West, a distinction that affirms its regional leadership in delivering rigorous academics, innovative teaching and a deep commitment to community-minded learning.
Additionally, the university remains among the top 10 regional universities in the West, ranking No. 6 overall, and ranked No. 3 in Best Value Schools and No. 5 in Best Colleges for Veterans.
“These rankings reflect how an education at St. Edward’s champions mission-driven academics grounded in our Holy Cross values,” said St. Edward’s University Interim President Matthew Shank. “We take pride in creating an inclusive community where students from all backgrounds can thrive. We expand access for first-generation scholars, empower individuals transitioning from military service and provide working professionals with clear pathways to advance their careers. When our students succeed, they uplift their families and strengthen the communities around them.”
Located in Austin, the university leverages its surrounding ecosystem of innovation, technology, business and the creative industries to provide students with hands-on, real-world learning opportunities. Now in the fifth year of its strategic plan, the university continues to cultivate partnerships with local and regional organizations. These collaborations support internships, career-readiness programming and financial investments designed to prepare undergraduate and non-traditional learners for long-term professional success.
Beyond its national academic rankings, St. Edward’s continues to earn recognition for its regional and global impact and expanding academic programs to meet industry demands through innovative workforce development initiatives. Over the past year, the university was named a Top Producing Institution by the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, which has enabled 91 students with financial need to study or intern abroad since 2001. Building on this momentum, the School of Health Sciences launched its first-ever Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program to prepare registered nurses for advanced leadership roles. Additionally, St. Edward's is deepening its industry alignment with a virtual 12-week MBA offered in collaboration with Abilitie and TED, as well as partnering with ed2go to offer flexible, high-demand online workforce certifications for regional adult learners.
At the same time, the university continues to advance campus sustainability and regional connectivity through pioneering environmental projects. St. Edward's introduced Central Texas’ first "Tiny Forest," a 600-square-foot living laboratory featuring over 160 densely planted trees and shrubs that utilize the Miyawaki Method to accelerate growth, boost biodiversity and capture carbon. Complementing these ecological research efforts, the university partnered with CapMetro to install one of the transit authority’s largest electrified bikeshare stations on campus, providing students, faculty and staff with eco-friendly transportation options to navigate Austin.
About St. Edward’s University
St. Edward’s University is a private university with Catholic, Holy Cross values and approximately 3,000 students. Located in Austin, Texas, this top-ranked university offers more than 55 undergraduate programs, six master’s degrees, two doctoral degrees and industry-focused professional certificates. St. Edward’s delivers a premier, highly personalized education that provides students with distinctive academics and extensive internships, research, and service-learning opportunities on a vibrant, inclusive hilltop campus in a world-class city. St. Edward’s has been recognized for 23 consecutive years as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report. In the 2026 Best Colleges rankings, St. Edward’s ranked #6 among the Best Regional Universities in the West, #5 Top Performers on Social Mobility, #3 Top Private Colleges in the West, #3 for Best Value School and #5 for Best Colleges for Veterans.
About U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, insurance, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.
