Xavier debuts as ‘National University’ in U.S. News Best Colleges rankings

Sep 12, 2022

CINCINNATI – For the first time in its nearly 40-year history, U.S. News and World Report’s Best Colleges list recognized Xavier University as a “National University” for 2023, ranking Xavier among the largest and most influential universities in the country.

“It is due to the dedication and hard work of our faculty and staff with our students that we have earned this reputation among our peers," said Rachel Chrastil, PhD, Xavier University Provost and Chief Academic Officer. "This all maps back to the work done each day in the classroom, in our guidance to students as they learn to be deeper thinkers and more skilled practitioners, in supporting students in undergraduate research, in rethinking our curriculum, in the many hours of pedagogical development at the Center for Teaching Excellence. I am so proud and grateful to our faculty and our staff for this recognition.”

After 27 consecutive years of placing among the Top-10 Midwest Regional universities, today Xavier made its debut in the National Universities category as the No. 166 university in the U.S. This move is largely due to the number of terminal degrees Xavier awards its graduates, while also signaling the next step in the university’s continued elevation.

Drilling down, U.S. News listed Xavier in the rankings’ Undergraduate Teaching category, a rare distinction given to less than 80 universities nationwide. Xavier placed 54th nationally in this category.

Additionally, Xavier saw several of its specialties recognized for their excellence. Four undergraduate business programs ranked within the top 40 nationally in their respective categories:

• Analytics: No. 23
• Entrepreneurship: No. 25
• Finance: No. 36
• Marketing: No. 29

Xavier’s recognition as a National University comes on the heels of steady expansion in recent decades. More than 60% of the university’s students now hail from out of state, with more than 10 regional recruiters located in areas like Boston, New York City, Atlanta, St. Louis, Chicago, San Diego, and many more.

Xavier also features several elite academic programs, including pre-med programs that lead more than 85% of graduates to be accepted into medical school, compared to the national average of only 40%. The university’s nursing, business, and education programs also serve as some of the most popular programs selected by new students every year.

Regardless of the path Xavier students choose, the university prepares them for success upon graduation. Xavier sees 98% of its graduates employed, attending graduate school or serving in a full-time service position within six months of graduating.

Find out more about Xavier’s performance in the 2023 Best Colleges rankings and learn more about Xavier's many highly-rated and nationally-ranked programs.

Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-­­oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 387 Colleges in America." Follow Xavier on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok.