STEVENS POINT — The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has been recognized among the “Best Colleges for Rural America” by Washington Monthly magazine, ranking highest among rural Universities of Wisconsin campuses.
The university placed 47th out of 100 rural institutions recognized nationwide. The ranking cited the school’s high proportion of in-state students and graduates, low net price and degree offerings in high-demand fields for rural communities.
UW-Stevens Point shared the national distinction with two other state campuses: UW-Platteville, which ranked 48th, and UW-Whitewater, which placed 71st.
Washington Monthly selected candidates from a pool of 1,000 institutions identified by the Rural Serving Post-Secondary Institutions Project. Schools were evaluated using social mobility metrics that measure how effectively an institution educates economically disadvantaged students at lower tuition rates and graduates them into good-paying jobs. Evaluation criteria included the percentage of students receiving Pell Grants, net price paid by students from median-income backgrounds and below, median student loan debt and alumni earnings.
Qualifying colleges offer degrees in essential rural fields, including natural resources and conservation, engineering, agriculture, health care, parks and recreation, public administration, social services and education.
“As someone who grew up in a rural area, I appreciate how rural universities ensure that their students are supported and that they go on to serve businesses and people in their own communities,” said Bob Brinkmann, chancellor of UW-Stevens Point.
“UW-Stevens Point ensures that our graduates are well-prepared, not just for jobs, but for professional careers that are in demand in regional rural areas,” Brinkmann said. “This retains local talent and returns taxpayers’ investment in education.”
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