September 12, 2022 – Saint Leo University (saintleo.edu) was ranked among the best universities in the nation in the 2023 U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges rankings, which was released September 12. Additionally, the university was ranked 46th in the nation in the Top Performers on Social Mobility category and among the top universities nationally for the most international students and campus ethnic diversity.

This news is a change for Saint Leo, which was ranked among the best regional universities last year. The university received a new classification status for 2023, which elevated it to a new rankings category among other national institutions.

“With a residential campus in the Tampa Bay area, 16 regional education centers, an online learning platform, and an increasing number of master’s and doctoral programs, Saint Leo’s national reach continues to grow with thousands of students served each year,” said Saint Leo University President Dr. Ed Dadez. “I am pleased to see that the university was recognized among national institutions for our efforts to offer a quality, liberal arts education, as well as for its ethnic diversity, number of international students, and ability to help students succeed.” 

Those schools ranked in the national universities category offer a range of undergraduate majors, plus master’s and doctoral programs, and emphasize faculty research or award professional practice doctorates.

The U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, now in its 38th year, help students who plan to pursue a bachelor's degree, select a university. The latest edition assesses more than 1,500 U.S. bachelor's degree-granting institutions on 17 measures of academic quality. This year's rankings considered several factors including: graduation and retention rates; graduate indebtedness; social mobility; faculty resources, which takes into account class size and faculty salary; peer assessment by other universities; financial resources; student excellence, which includes performance on standardized tests and high school class standing; and alumni giving.

The social mobility category measures how well schools graduated students who received federal Pell Grants (those typically coming from households whose family incomes are less than $50,000 annually, though most Pell Grant money goes to students with a total family income below $20,000).

For information on 2023 Best Colleges, go to https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges.

About Saint Leo University

Saint Leo University is one of the largest Catholic universities in the nation, offering 62 degree programs to more than 15,800 students each year. Founded in 1889 by Benedictine monks and sisters, the private, nonprofit university is known for providing a values-based education to learners of all backgrounds and ages in the liberal arts tradition. Saint Leo is regionally accredited and offers a residential campus in the Tampa Bay region of Florida, 16 education centers in five states, and an online program for students anywhere. The university is home to more than 100,000 alumni. Learn more at saintleo.edu.