Monmouth University was named to “Money Magazine’s” Best Colleges in America 2023 list, which identifies colleges that combine quality and affordability. Monmouth is one of 736 four-year institutions across the nation to qualify for the roster, receiving four stars out of five based on the magazine’s new ranking system.
“We are honored to be recognized for our continued work in becoming a national leader in the successful integration of excellence and access,” said Monmouth University President Patrick F. Leahy.
To compile this year’s list, “Money” analyzed dozens of data points, including graduation rates, cost of attendance, financial aid, and alumni salaries. The new system “recognizes that there are multiple ways for a school to provide value, and multiple ‘best’ colleges, depending on your goals and priorities.”
Across the three major evaluation categories of quality, affordability, and outcomes, “Money” also included a “value-added” metric to consider the economic and academic profile of admitted students. Data points such as net price by income level and Pell Grant recipient outcomes were also used to assess how well schools help lower-income students.
“We remain committed to providing a first-rate education that is both accessible and affordable,” added Leahy. “Currently, nearly one-third of Monmouth students are Pell Grant-eligible, and more than 40 percent of our first-year students are the first in their family to attend college.”
“The places that are accepting Pell recipients and then helping them graduate and moving into better jobs—that’s a school that’s really doing a lot for its students, for society at large,” Jenny Nagaoka, deputy director of the UChicago Consortium on School Research, remarked on what makes a “five-star college.”