By Kelsie Carter
[email protected]
Published: Friday, August 31, 2012
Updated: Friday, August 31, 2012 00:08
The University of Memphis is doing something right, and it landed them in the top 20 percent of ranked colleges in the nation.
The U of M is ranked No. 51 among 281 colleges by Washington Monthly magazine.
The U of M secured its ranking thanks to recruiting and graduating low income students as well as producing research from cutting-edge scholarships and awarding doctorates. The University also earned praise for encouraging students to give back to their country.
Other Conference USA schools landed in the rankings as well. The University of Southern Mississippi ranked No. 69 and the University of Central Florida came in at No. 106. Neighboring Middle Tennessee State University also made the list with a secure No. 127.
The University is also ranked fifth for service staff, courses and financial aid support.
“We know how important financial aid is in students lives and in trying to get their education,” said Richard Ritzman, director of student financial aid.
“I had a problem [with the financial aid office] several semesters in a row,” senior Kyle Lacroix said. “[My problems] stopped last semester.”
Ritzman said that this year the financial aid office has tried to be “as proactive as possible,” by sending out information as soon as they receive it. “Every time we can do something earlier we have more time to work with students who are having problems,” Ritzman said.
“There are usually long lines, but they’ve gotten better about that too,” Lacroix said.
Washington Monthly upholds that its rankings are based on more than how many people attend the university, but what the school is doing for the country. They also maintain that their ranking rubric is more important in determining the worth of an institution than other publications.
[email protected]
Published: Friday, August 31, 2012
Updated: Friday, August 31, 2012 00:08
The University of Memphis is doing something right, and it landed them in the top 20 percent of ranked colleges in the nation.
The U of M is ranked No. 51 among 281 colleges by Washington Monthly magazine.
The U of M secured its ranking thanks to recruiting and graduating low income students as well as producing research from cutting-edge scholarships and awarding doctorates. The University also earned praise for encouraging students to give back to their country.
Other Conference USA schools landed in the rankings as well. The University of Southern Mississippi ranked No. 69 and the University of Central Florida came in at No. 106. Neighboring Middle Tennessee State University also made the list with a secure No. 127.
The University is also ranked fifth for service staff, courses and financial aid support.
“We know how important financial aid is in students lives and in trying to get their education,” said Richard Ritzman, director of student financial aid.
“I had a problem [with the financial aid office] several semesters in a row,” senior Kyle Lacroix said. “[My problems] stopped last semester.”
Ritzman said that this year the financial aid office has tried to be “as proactive as possible,” by sending out information as soon as they receive it. “Every time we can do something earlier we have more time to work with students who are having problems,” Ritzman said.
“There are usually long lines, but they’ve gotten better about that too,” Lacroix said.
Washington Monthly upholds that its rankings are based on more than how many people attend the university, but what the school is doing for the country. They also maintain that their ranking rubric is more important in determining the worth of an institution than other publications.