RICHMOND, Kentucky — Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) has been named to the 2025 US News and World Report Best Colleges list for the second year in a row. EKU was ranked in the categories of National Universities, Top Public Schools, and Top Performers in Social Mobility and Nursing.
EKU moved up from last year’s rankings on the national universities and top public schools list. EKU has been ranked No. 1 among Kentucky public universities as a top performer for social mobility for the second year in a row.
“Being named again to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges list is a testament to our school’s commitment to academic excellence, student success, and faculty and staff dedication,” said EKU President David McFaddin. ” he said. “As a Commonwealth School of Opportunity, we reaffirm our role in developing future leaders and emphasize the impact we have on the lives of our students and the communities we serve.”
According to US News and World Reports“Taken together, the rankings are a guide to finding the best school for you based on academic ability and personal considerations.” Approximately 1,500 four-year degree-granting institutions are ranked based on graduation rates, graduation rate performance, peer ratings, and more. were evaluated and compared based on weighted factors. Institutions ranked for social mobility were evaluated based on their success in “enrolling and graduating a large proportion of disadvantaged students awarded Pell Grants.”
Among EKU’s spring 2024 graduates, 40% were Pell recipients or Pell eligible. Additionally, nearly 40% are first-generation college graduates. In an effort to reduce barriers to higher education, EKU’s innovative BookSmart program provides free textbooks to all degree-seeking students.
EKU has the highest employment rate one year after graduation of all public institutions in Kentucky. EKU tailors its academic program offerings to the needs of the state’s workforce, providing high-quality educational opportunities in areas such as manufacturing engineering, aviation, teacher education, health care, and business.
This year, EKU announced the launch of a feasibility study to analyze the need for a public osteopathic medical college in the commonwealth. According to According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, Kentucky’s need for primary care medical professionals is only 47.7% met. Nearly all of the state’s 120 counties have facilities designated as primary care health professional shortage areas. EKU is Doctor of Osteopathy (do) degreethe number of shortage areas across the Commonwealth could be reduced.
EKU has been consistently recognized as a Best College by US News and World Report for several years. U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges ranking joins a list of national honors for EKU, including Best Colleges in America by WSJ College Pulse Rankings 2025, Best Bang-for-the-Buck College by Washington Monthly, and No. 2 in the nation . at Military Friendly® School and Military Friendly® Spouse School.
At a time when enrollment was declining nationwide, EKU experienced a 24% increase in freshman enrollment from 2020 to 2024. Additionally, EKU welcomed the largest freshman class in university history this fall, with 2,985 new students arriving on the first day of classes.
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