Story: Betsy Compton
Recognition places UWA at top of list of 225 colleges and universities for ability to create opportunities for students and meet rural communities鈥� needs
The University of West Alabama has been named the nation鈥檚 No. 1 college for rural America in a new national ranking by Washington Monthly, earning the top position for its ability to create opportunity for students while preparing graduates to meet critical workforce needs in rural communities.
The inaugural Best Colleges for Rural America ranking evaluated 225 four-year colleges and universities nationwide, measuring institutions on student access and affordability, graduate earnings, student debt, service to in-state students, retention of graduates within their states, and production of degrees in fields where rural communities face workforce shortages.
UWA ranked No. 1 overall and also led the nation in two key measures: earnings performance and the percentage of graduates earning degrees in fields in high demand in rural areas.
鈥淭his recognition validates something we know to be true about UWA: our location in rural West Alabama does not limit our impact鈥攊t helps define our purpose,鈥� said UWA President Dr. Todd G. Fritch. 鈥淎t UWA, we understand the communities we serve, and we are intentional about creating opportunities that help our students succeed while strengthening the places they call home. To see UWA at the top of a national ranking built around measurable outcomes is an extraordinary affirmation of the work our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners are doing every day.鈥�
Numbers Speak
, 65 percent of UWA students graduate in fields identified as being in high demand in rural areas, including education, health professions, agriculture, natural resources, engineering, public administration, and social services. That percentage placed UWA first nationally in the category.
The ranking also placed UWA first in earnings performance. Four years after graduation, UWA alumni have median annual earnings of $64,122鈥�$26,561 more than the publication鈥檚 predicted earnings based on student demographics.
Fritch said the results are particularly significant for a regional institution that operates with fewer resources than many of its peers.
鈥淪ince I came to UWA, I have said that the data shows that we do more with less,鈥� Fritch said. 鈥淯WA receives less state funding per FTE than any other public university in Alabama, yet our people continue to produce results that compare exceptionally well on both the state and national levels. This ranking is not based on perception or reputation. It is grounded in outcomes, and those outcomes demonstrate the tremendous value UWA delivers to our students, our state, and rural America.鈥�
National Recogntion
The recognition follows . That designation recognizes institutions that provide broad access to higher education while their graduates achieve earnings outcomes that exceed those of comparable institutions.
Together, Fritch said, these recognitions underscore UWA鈥檚 effectiveness in translating access into meaningful opportunity.
鈥淩egional universities are essential to the future of rural America,鈥� Fritch said. 鈥淲e educate teachers, healthcare professionals, engineers, public servants, and other professionals our communities need. We create pathways to careers and economic mobility, and we provide the talent that allows our communities and industries to grow. UWA has embraced that responsibility throughout its history, and we will continue building upon it.鈥�
About the Ranking
Washington Monthly specifically highlighted UWA鈥檚 longstanding role in preparing educators, noting the University鈥檚 roots in teacher education and its continued production of education graduates in a region facing teacher shortages.
The publication developed the Best Colleges for Rural America ranking to identify institutions that not only are located in rural communities but also demonstrate measurable success in serving rural students and regions. Institutions were evaluated using data that included Pell Grant enrollment, net price, student debt, graduate earnings, in-state enrollment and retention, and degrees awarded in fields considered critical to rural communities.