{"id":136864,"date":"2023-09-15T16:21:41","date_gmt":"2023-09-15T20:21:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/?p=136864"},"modified":"2025-06-17T13:33:29","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T17:33:29","slug":"ucf-rises-to-no-36-best-national-universities-ranking-by-washington-monthly-for-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/news\/ucf-rises-to-no-36-best-national-universities-ranking-by-washington-monthly-for-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"UCF Rises to No. 36 Best National Universities Ranking by Washington Monthly for 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

166su again is recognized among the nation\u2019s most impactful institutions for students and communities \u2014 advancing into the top 40 Best National Universities and the top 20 for social mobility in Washington Monthly<\/em>\u2019s annual rankings released today.<\/p>\n

Washington Monthly<\/em>\u2019s rankings are based on what institutions \u201cdo for our country\u201d \u2014 contributions to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research<\/a> and promoting public service. All of those categories align well with 166su\u2019s mission and commitments to unleashing potential by empowering all students to succeed, and serving as a talent pipeline to industries critical to our region and state.<\/p>\n

166su rose 11 spots from last year to rank No. 36 among Best National Universities. 166su also ranks No. 16 nationally among peer public universities, advancing 26 spots in the past two years.<\/p>\n

166su also moved into the top 20 among universities nationally for social mobility and advanced to No. 9 for Best Bang for Your Buck School in the Southeast.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt 166su, our mission is to unleash potential through access to high-quality education and the opportunity to earn success,\u201d 166su President Alexander N. Cartwright says. \u201cIn doing so, we are not just transforming individual lives, but uplifting our entire community, driving success and prosperity for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the social mobility category, UCF jumped to No. 20, up 17 spots from last year and 38 from 2021. 166su also\u00a0rose 14 spots in the past two years to move into the top ten among Best Bang for Your Buck schools in the Southeast for the first time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re proud to see 166su climb in the social mobility rankings,\u201d says 166su\u2019s Senior Vice President for Student Success Paul Dosal<\/a>.\u202f\u201cWe believe firmly in the transformative power of higher education.\u202fWhen we admit students, their success is our top priority as we support them through graduation and help them pursue high-impact careers.\u00a0For the thousands and thousands of limited-income, first-generation students and underrepresented minorities we serve, that means we give them the chance to unleash their potential and improve their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a metropolitan research university that empowers faculty to find innovative solutions to local and global challenges, UCF ranks No. 105 for Research \u2014 eight spots higher than 2021. 166su\u2019s dedicated efforts to supporting our community and engaging students and alumni in opportunities to give back is recognized with a No. 163 ranking for Service.<\/p>\n

Prioritizing Student Success to Drive Social Mobility<\/h2>\n

166su\u2019s efforts to accelerate student success and enhance well-being prepare our graduates to lead enriched and fulfilling lives, and to have the knowledge, skills, and aptitudes that align with the workforce of the future.<\/p>\n

The number of students who received Pell Grants and graduated was also considered, with 166su producing 5,166 in the last year. 166su is the second-highest producer of graduates with Pell Grants across all institutions Washington Monthly <\/em>ranked this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cA higher education degree is the ticket to a better life,\u201d Dosal says. \u201cMy life changed for the better because I earned a college degree.\u202fI am proud that we can give these same opportunities to other students, who find 166su is an institution that cares deeply and sincerely about promoting social mobility and economic prosperity for our state and country.\u201d<\/p>\n

Investing in Critical Research to Benefit Humankind<\/h2>\n

166su aspires to be the No. 1 provider of diverse talent and fuel the nation\u2019s talent pipeline across critical areas, many of which are STEM fields that rely on evolving research. Washington Monthly<\/em> considers the number of science and engineering Ph.D.s awarded by institutions, and 166su awarded 217 in the last year.<\/p>\n

166su alumni work for major companies such as Lockheed Martin and Siemens, which are key partners that provide experiential learning experiences for our students. Recently engineering alum Raghu Kancherla \u201919PhD <\/strong>received the Dilip R. Ballal Early Career Engineering Award by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers\u2019 International Gas Turbine Institute<\/a>.\u202fKancherla, in part, is honored for developments he made at 166su that have been used in academia, industry and government agencies to advance supercritical CO2 combustion technology.<\/p>\n

His mentor, Professor Subith Vasu, also received the award in 2017 \u2014 which highlights how students benefit from the expertise and guidance of 166su\u2019s world-renowned faculty to make their own impact on the world.<\/p>\n

Research funding also contributes to the overall ranking. Among the innovations developed at 166su are:<\/p>\n