The University of West Alabama has been named the nation’s top college for rural America in a new ranking by Washington Monthly that measures how well colleges create economic opportunity for students and serve rural communities.
UWA ranked No. 1 among 225 four-year colleges and universities included in the publication’s inaugural Best Colleges for Rural America ranking.
Washington Monthly has published college rankings since 2005, generally emphasizing measures such as social mobility, public service and outcomes rather than institutional prestige and selectivity. The rural college ranking is new this year.
The rural ranking considers student access and affordability, graduate earnings, student debt, the share of students who come from the institution’s home state, the share of graduates who remain in that state and the number of degrees awarded in fields where rural communities face workforce shortages.
UWA President Todd Fritch said the recognition reflects the university’s longstanding focus on serving rural communities.
“This recognition validates something we know to be true about UWA: Our location in rural West Alabama does not limit our impact – it helps define our purpose,” Fritch said in a statement.
“At 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.”
UWA also ranked first nationally in the percentage of graduates earning degrees in fields considered in high demand in rural areas.
According to Washington Monthly, 65% of UWA graduates earn degrees in fields including education, health professions, agriculture, natural resources, engineering, public administration and social services.
The university also led the ranking on earnings performance. Four years after graduation, UWA alumni had median annual earnings of $64,122, or $26,561 more than the publication predicted for graduates of a college like UWA.
The ranking highlighted UWA’s role in preparing educators, particularly in a region where schools continue to face teacher shortages.
The recognition comes a year after UWA was named an Opportunity College and University by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education, a designation for colleges that enroll a broad range of students and whose graduates go on to earn more than expected.
Fritch said the two recognitions highlight the role regional universities can play in preparing students for jobs and strengthening the communities they serve.
“Regional universities are essential to the future of rural America,” he said. “We educate teachers, healthcare professionals, engineers, public servants, and other professionals our communities need.”