When it comes to changing the lives of its students, UC Merced is second to none.
In the latest Wall Street Journal America's Best Colleges rankings, UC Merced was the No. 1 university in the nation for social mobility — a term used to describe how well colleges and universities attract, retain and help students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds complete their degrees and graduate into promising careers.
A perennial top five university in this category, UC Merced is now recognized as the prime example of how a school can provide students, especially those who are historically underserved, with a chance for better lives and brighter futures.
In the overall rankings, UC Merced was named the 18th-best university in the nation – up from 59th last year. The university also climbed 10 spots from last year among public institutions to claim the No. 5 position.
“At UC Merced, we routinely say that we don’t do what we do for rankings, but when you excel others will always take notice,” said Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz. “We hope this recent acknowledgment will be yet another opportunity for people to learn about the exceptional culture of student success that has taken root at UC Merced. Year after year, we are delivering on our promise of access, excellence, and opportunity for the students who choose to attend UC Merced.”
In the annual report, the Wall Street Journal — in collaboration with research partners College Pulse and Statista — examines several factors including student outcomes, the learning environment and diversity. The social mobility rankings also take into consideration the proportion of students coming from lower-income families, graduation rates, impact on graduate salaries and affordability.
Almost 60% of the student body at UC Merced are Pell-eligible and 65% are first-generation. Students in these categories face unique challenges, so providing readily accessible resources is vital to ensure their success. Crucial to this work is making contact before they step foot on campus, which requires strategic outreach to school districts.
UC Merced’s Center For Educational Partnerships (CEP) was created for this reason. CEP works with K-12 sites throughout the Central Valley to advance college and career readiness at middle and high schools. Parents are also engaged in an effort to empower them to clearly understand the college application and financial aid processes.
Once they become Bobcats, students continue to receive support services at UC Merced through the Calvin E. Bright Success Center, where a holistic approach is taken to academic success. Connection to the campus and fellow students is stressed to instill a sense of belonging, and regular check-ins are conducted to measure student progress. The Fiat Lux Scholars Program offers elevated support and includes a living and learning community for first-year students.
Another way UC Merced nourishes upward mobility is by partnering with organizations such as College Track that have proven success when it comes to student outcomes. Students involved in these multi-year programs are better equipped to handle the academic, financial, social and emotional rigors of higher education.
“UC Merced is redefining post-secondary opportunity and excellence,” said Muñoz. “For far too long, lower-income students, including those from our region, were told that a UC education was unattainable. But thanks to the tireless work of our faculty and staff, as well as our partners and supporters, that is no longer the case.”
