As Western New England University (WNE) continues to stake its claim as a New Traditional University, not only is the institution garnering national attention, but the data from several sources shows that WNE is a national leader in return on investment (ROI) measures.
In a study conducted by Georgetown University, which measured and ranked colleges and universities by their student's return on investment, Georgetown ranked 4,500 colleges. The rankings follow the methodology of their 2019 report, A First Try at ROI: Ranking 4,500 Colleges. Using data from the College Scorecard, Western New England University was ranked in the top 6% of colleges and universities by ROI—#1 in Springfield and 3rd in the Pioneer Valley behind Williams and Amherst Colleges.
"We are committed to not only preparing students with the knowledge and domain skills for their chosen professions, but also encouraging them to understand the importance of continuously creating value in all that they do," says Dr. Maria Toyoda, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. "To be fully prepared for the future of work, students must become innovators equipped with the confidence and tools to continually reinvent themselves throughout their professional careers."
Drawing data from Harvard's Opportunity Insights project, The New York Times ranked WNE 10th from a field of over 575 selective private institutions in the country, measuring factors that contribute to significant economic advancement (students rising from the bottom fifth of incomes to the top fifth as adults). This is supported by the latest U.S. News and World Report, which ranks the University as a Top Performer on Social Mobility, placing WNE in the top 10 National Universities in Massachusetts for this category. Additionally, an independent evaluation of the median starting salary of alumni in the U.S. News & World Report's (2022) Top 100 National Universities determined that the median starting salary for Western New England University graduates is higher than 52 of the top 100 institutions in the country.
"These rankings mean that a WNE degree has great value," says University President Dr. Robert E. Johnson. "A Western New England University education will not only be well worth the investment in your academic knowledge, industry-related experience, and relevant skills, but will also continue to demonstrate those returns throughout your career."
Already honored by the Colleges of Distinction for its high-impact approach to education, the Kevin S. and Sandra E. Delbridge Career Center at Western New England University has been recognized by the Colleges of Distinction as a 2022-2023 Best College specializing in the area of Career Development—preparing students to be adaptable in an ever-changing career landscape.
"Western New England University offers resources and provides unparalleled support throughout every stage of career exploration, development, and application," said Tyson Schritter, Chief Operating Officer at Colleges of Distinction. "Western New England University brings career readiness into the classroom, making intentional connections between students of all majors and the careers they pursue after graduation. It's this kind of innovative, ingrained career preparation strategies that make Western New England University's outstanding Career Center worthy of praise."
