UNC Greensboro (UNCG) ranked as the top university in North Carolina for Social Mobility in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2020 rankings. This new category highlights the institutions that are most successful in enrolling and graduating students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. In addition to the number 1 ranking in the state, UNCG ranks 27th nationally in this key category.
This is also the 29th straight year, UNCG has been recognized as one of the top universities in the country. UNCG is also included in the U.S. News “National Universities” and “Top Public Schools” ranking lists.
“UNCG is poised to serve as a national model for how a university can blend opportunity, excellence, and a tenacious commitment to student success to transform the lives of our students and make a meaningful contribution to the prosperity of the state,” said Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr. “The success in social mobility is a testament to the intentional effort of our faculty and staff to create innovative programs that remove barriers; provide proactive support for students from the time they are admitted all the way through graduation; and better prepare UNCG graduates for real-world success in the workforce.”
Earlier this semester, UNCG scored high for social mobility in Washington Monthly’s annual rankings. The publication also recognized UNCG for affordability and for high graduation rates among Pell Grant recipients.
This continued national recognition reflects the University’s increased focus on student success. Last year, UNCG opened a new Student Success Commons right in the heart of campus. The center brings together a variety of resources and programs under one roof to better support students of all backgrounds.
Additionally, UNCG has received over $5 million in grant support for student success initiatives over the past two years. A new initiative launched this fall, the Academic Success Coaching program, is designed to transform the first-year student experience by providing academic coaching to 150 first-year students. With generous funding from the Edward M. Armfield, Sr. Foundation and the Cemala Foundation, of $1.2 million and $250,000, respectively, the goal is to scale the program to support more students across campus.
