Saint Xavier University’s Academic bell Saint Xavier University
Saint Xavier University (SXU) was recently ranked #37 in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 List of Best Colleges. The University was given multiple awards based on different criteria.
The statement was released on Sept. 24 and named SXU as the sixth “Best Value School,” #37 in “Best Regional University” within the top 10 in Illinois, and ninth place for “Top Performers on Social Mobility” in the Midwest.
SXU has won “Best Value School” for the ninth consecutive year in the Midwest. This is achieved by the evaluation of the academic quality, alongside the net worth of the student’s attendance. The greater the value and quality of the program, the lesser cost it would become.
SXU had been ranked top 10 in the Midwest as the “Top Performer on Social Mobility” for the sixth year. Economically disadvantaged students are granted Pell Grants whose gross income is less than $50,000 for accessibility towards completing their degree.
SXU has been ranked top 10 in Illinois for most racial and ethnic diverse universities in the Midwest region and is among the top 15 regional institutions for diversity. SXU has also been recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).
“Saint Xavier University’s recognition in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings reaffirms our deep commitment to providing an excellent education while remaining accessible and affordable,” comments President of Saint Xavier, Keith Elder, Ph.D., MPH, MPA.
“Being recognized as a “Best Value School” and a top performer in “Social Mobility” year after year highlights our dedication to ensuring students from every background have the opportunity to pursue a college education that translates to a meaningful career. We are proud of this continued recognition that reflects the strength of our community, the significance of our mission, and the incredible value of an SXU education,” he continued.
In order to have eligibility to be ranked by the U.S. News, the universities with a traditional four-year baccalaureate program in the U.S. must be located in the U.S., have regional accreditation, at least 100 undergraduate students must be enrolled, the institution must be presented as a bachelor’s degree-granting initiation in Carnegie’s Basic Classification while not being a ‘highly specialized’ institution, shared U.S. News.
The Institution must also actively accept applicants for new first year students, have a six-year bachelor program at a full-time rate while being first-year and have financial expenditure figures available in the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Data Center, stated U.S. News.
Rankings also focus on student preferences, including which majors, activities, and clubs are available and offered at the university, alongside campus life.
SXU’s nursing program was nationally ranked third in Illinois as “Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs.” These institutions must recently have been awarded at least 50 BSN degrees to be considered. Ranking must also be accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or Education in Nursing.
“SXU also ranks highly in the greater Midwest for economic diversity and is ranked fifth in the Midwest, with a large percentage of undergraduate students receiving federal Pell Grants,” stated SXU.
SXU was ranked among the “Best Undergraduate Psychology Programs” for the second year in a row. “The rankings are based solely on the judgments of department chairs and faculty members at psychology departments at institutions around the country who participated in a peer assessment survey,” explained SXU.
The university was ranked #20 in “Best Colleges for Veterans” Military Friendly® school Yellow Ribbon institution and ranks fourth in Illinois. “Saint Xavier is proud to serve its student-veterans with access to resources and services to help them transition into the classroom and succeed in completing their degree,” commented SXU.
It’s the university’s first year to be recognized for “Best Undergraduate Computer Science Programs” In order to be considered for ranking, programs must either be accredited by ABET or recently awarded 20 or more bachelor’s degrees in the department, shared SXU.
For the third year, SXU was ranked for “Best Undergraduate Business Programs.”
“SXU’s Graham School of Management (GSM) provides a comprehensive, innovative curriculum matched with experimental learning to prepare students to serve as leaders in business,” mentions SXU. These programs are focused on areas found in accounting, finance, marketing and management, as they are ranked by AACSB-accredited.
Saint Xavier has been annually awarded and recognized for their great achievements they’ve accumulated through the years as they provide a committed and determined education, and programs for their students to prepare them for a successful journey into the start of their careers.
“The University is committed to continuous improvement of student experiences and outcomes, and as we continue to build upon this work and open doors to bright futures for our students, the recognition affirms we are headed in the right direction,” comments Saint Xavier University.
To learn more about SXU’s undergraduate programs, graduate programs and degree completion programs, please click into the provided links. To discover SXU’s achievement rankings, visit U.S. News Report for additional information.