BGSU tops in Ohio in helping disadvantaged students graduate, minimize debt

When it comes to helping disadvantaged students graduate and start a career with solid financial footing, BGSU is tops in Ohio and one of the best in the region.

CollegeNet, a higher-education technology company, and Payscale, a compensation-data firm, ranked BGSU 53rd out of 539 schools on its new Social Mobility Index (SMI). The rankings are meant to highlight schools that do the best job of helping disadvantaged students graduate without an extreme amount of debt.

“This is just another affirmation of BGSU’s commitment to our students,” said Dr. Mary Ellen Mazey, president of the University. “We have a tradition of helping first generation college students succeed on campus and in their careers.”

Five criteria determine the rankings: tuition, percentage of the student body from low-income households, graduation rate, salaries of grads once they start working, and the size of each school’s endowment.

The creators of this index referenced an article in Science from May, which revealed among developed nations, the United States now provides the least economic opportunity and mobility for its citizens. They said the SMI differs from most other rankings in that it focuses directly and broadly on the problem of economic mobility.