MSU climbs 7 spots in rankings
In the annual U.S. News & World Report college and university rankings, Minnesota State ranked No. 60 among Midwest regional universities, based on tuition, enrollment, and acceptance rate. This year’s ranking is seven spots higher than in the 2023 report.
The university rankings “can help prospective students and their families compare institutions as they look for the best fit. There are plenty of reasons to attend a particular college or university,” as stated on the U.S. News and World Report website.
According to Director of Student Success Amy Staloch, U.S. News and World Report receives information from the university, which is considered when the ranks are created. Factors such as persistence and graduation also contribute to the overall ranking decision.
“When we look at student success in general, we are seeing an uptick in things like our retention rates, our graduation rates, our completion rates, which is a good thing. We’re not where we want to be yet,” said Staloch. “We want to increase that and continue to move forward with our different areas that I mentioned to different metrics. We are making some good progress.”
Staloch said MSU is focused on putting the right support and people around students, so that the student success rate is increased. Staloch checks statistics, which show that there is an increase in the metrics for graduation and retention of students.
“They’re small, incremental. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t some really good foundational work being laid out to continue to see that upscaling in the coming semesters and coming years,” Staloch said. “I think it’s really important the things that we are doing now to ensure that we’re setting students up as they get started, but then also as they continue, and look for that next step after graduation.”
Nursing sophomore Jaden James transferred to MSU from Arizona about two years ago. She said the university provided her with a great community.
“Everyone is so open to wanting to create relationships with each other. I was terrified that I would have the same atmosphere where I didn’t know anybody, and no one wanted to talk to me,” said James. “But the minute I came to Mankato, I met my best friends, and I just thrived after that, and I didn’t think I ever would.”
The community helped James gain more confidence in public speaking skills and allowed her to give speeches for professors and students. As she developed her skills through community and student groups, James reflected on how student success could be the reason MSU’s rank increased.
Alumnus Haley Zinnel said faculty members, especially in the Department of Psychology, were her favorite part of the college experience as they have always supported her and created friendly academic relationships.
“It was really influential for my mental health. I had faculty check in on me when they noticed I did not appear well in class, and I had any professor I went to when I needed help with academics or graduate applications,” said Zinnel. “They’ve always been super open and receptive, and they’ve helped me in any way that I can ask regarding academics and communication.”
Write to Amal.sharafkhodjaeva@mnsu.edu