By Xavier University of Louisiana
Annually, the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce rank colleges and universities by return on investment. This year, more than 4,500 institutions were ranked using a new metric that measures the share of students at an institution whose earnings 10 years after enrollment are higher than those of workers with a high school diploma as their highest level of education. According to the report, Xavier University of Louisiana is the highest-ranking HBCU regarding students’ 15, 30, and 40-year return on investment (ROI).
Return on investment is described as a performance measure used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment or compare the efficiency of several investments. Xavier University provides students with a quality education in addition to the added monetary value. Widely recognized as a leader in STEM with the most African American medical school graduates and a highly ranked College of Pharmacy, Xavier recently added several innovative programs. It established a degree in robotics and mechatronics engineering, graduate programs for genetic counseling and health informatics, is in the process of reinstating the performing arts program to serve a wider variety of student interests and is continuously expanding academic offerings.
Xavier University of Louisiana, with less than 4,000 total students enrolled, ranked higher than all other HBCUs with a 40-year net present value of $1,098,000. Overall, Xavier ranked #761 in 40-year net present value; tied with large, public state colleges more than twice its size; The University of Tampa, home to more than 10,000 students and the University of Arkansas, with more than 29,000 students enrolled last year both tied with Xavier. In Louisiana, Xavier ranks top three in schools awarding baccalaureate degrees, following Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College with more than 35,000 students and Tulane University with more than 14,000 students.
“Xavier’s legacy speaks for itself,” said Xavier University President, Reynold Verret. “Our graduates and their success are a testament to the power of a Xavier education. Xavierites’ achievements and success are not just a benefit to that individual, but a benefit to the larger community that they are contributing to and the nation.”
Georgetown University states that an average of 60 percent of college students across institutions earn more than a high school graduate after 10 years. However, at 30 percent of schools, more than half of their students earn less than a high school graduate 10 years after enrollment. Their research indicates that these low earnings may relate to low graduation rates and disparities in earnings by gender, race and ethnicity.
Not only do Xavierites see a return on their Xavier education investment, but the education received by Xavier students is proven to elevate students’ lives after graduation. Recently, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) named Xavier University of Louisiana the most successful HBCU in terms of upward mobility. The study of social mobility outcomes showed that HBCUs help more than twice as many students rise from the bottom 40% of income earners to the top 60% category.
“We will continue to leverage our rich history and record of success, and use our uniqueness to challenge boundaries, engage traditional and new audiences, advance knowledge pursuits, and be leaders for a more just and humane society,” added President Verret. “We are being called by the nation to produce more and investments are needed to double our impact. Xavier University of Louisiana is a catalyst for positive change, and we will keep spreading Xavier’s mission throughout the nation and the world.”
Xavier University of Louisiana was founded on the principle of educating those with limited access and opportunity. Xavier is the nation’s only Catholic HBCU with a mission rooted in the values taught by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Xavier graduates pursue careers in medicine, law/policy, media, art, and more—shaping history in each industry. These rankings serve as a testament to the quality education provided at Xavier University of Louisiana.
