On September 22, U.S. News released its annual HBCU rankings for 2027. Southern University was ranked No. 48, tying with Bethune-Cookman University, Philander Smith College, Savannah State University, Stillman College, and West Virginia State University. When I first saw the ranking, I had mixed feelings about where Southern was ranked. Did I feel like Southern needed to be ranked No. 48? Yes and no. On one hand, I understand how the university received that ranking based on the factors U.S. News uses for their rankings. On the other hand, when I look at some of the other schools that ranked higher than Southern, in my humble opinion, we should have been ranked higher.
To understand why Southern was ranked No. 48, it is important to look at the factors U.S. News uses for their rankings. The rankings consider graduation rates, freshman retention rates, financial resources, faculty information, peer assessments, and student outcomes after graduation. I understand why these factors matter because they can indicate how well a university supports its students, prepares them for life after college, and how students can benefit from attending that institution.
One of the biggest factors affecting our ranking is our graduation rate. The graduation rate measures how many first-time, full-time, degree-seeking students complete their degree within four years. Based on my research, the newest official data available from Southern lists the four-year graduation rate at about 10%. Even though that number is concerning, I believe that number needs more context. Some of Southern’s major programs, including Engineering, can take students five years to complete because of their demanding requirements and how their degree flowcharts are set up. So, while the four-year graduation rate is something Southern needs to improve, I don’t think it tells the whole story of how long it takes every Southern student to graduate.
Another issue is admissions. Southern University talks frequently about the “Southern Standard,” but I think there needs to be more consistency between the standard we expect and the students we admit. Southern should continue providing the opportunities it already provides, but I also believe the university should try to recruit more students who have already shown that they can uphold a certain academic, personal, and professional standard. Additionally, students who are admitted should receive the support and resources they need to succeed.
Overall, I understand why Southern was ranked No. 48, but in my opinion, we could and should be higher. The ranking shows areas where Southern needs to improve, but it should not define the university as a whole. Instead, it should encourage Southern to look at admissions, student support, graduation rates, career opportunities, and whether every major receives the attention it deserves. Southern is more than just a number, but if we want that number to change, we have to be willing to look honestly at what is behind it, including making sure that strong programs like Nursing and Engineering continue to provide opportunities while majors such as Agriculture, Criminal Justice, Education, and Social Sciences receive the same attention and opportunities for their students. At the end of the day, the goal should not only be to move up in the rankings, but to ensure every student at Southern has the support, accessibility to opportunities, and resources they need to succeed, not only while attending Southern, but in their future post graduation careers.
Based on reporting by Southern University – SouthernDIGEST.
