HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT) – The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) School of Education was recently ranked 99th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
The Best Education Schools ranking evaluates programs based on nine different factors, including indicators related to student selectivity, faculty resources, research activity, and peer review. USM is tied with seven other schools across the country as her 99th best school in the nation with an academic program. It was ranked second among three Mississippi universities ranked by U.S. News & World Report this year. The University of Mississippi was ranked 54th along with her other three universities, and Jackson State University was ranked 163rd along with her other two universities.
This ranking evaluates all public and private educational institutions nationwide to help prospective students choose the institution that best fits their educational needs and career goals. Her five other schools in Mississippi with academic programs (Bel Haven University, Delta State University, University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, and William Carey University) were unranked.
In 2023, USM was ranked 138th nationally. The year-over-year increase that enabled USM to break into the top 100 schools was achieved in part by other colleges of education across the country who took note of the Golden Eagles' influence and praised their efforts through a peer evaluation process. USM President and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Lance Nail is proud of the progress the university has made over the past year.
“Thanks to the dedication of our faculty and staff, Southern Miss graduates are prepared to succeed in classrooms across the state and nation,” Nail said in a USM press release.
Trent Gould, dean of the USM School of Education and Human Sciences, echoed similar sentiments.
“The USM School of Education has made intentional efforts to enhance its social impact in the state and region. This ranking recognizes our commitment to transforming the human condition through exemplary teaching, outstanding research, and meaningful service. It is a testament to their daily dedication to our mission,” said Gould.
The USM School of Education offers undergraduate programs in elementary education as well as graduate programs in educational administration, higher education, elementary curriculum and instruction, special education, alternative route licensure, dyslexia treatment, and educational research. For USM President Joseph Paul, this ranking is a reminder of why his USM started in the first place.
“We were founded with the bold goal of establishing a state teacher training college. These rankings demonstrate our continued excellence and steadfast commitment to providing high-quality instruction. ” Paul said. “We are honored to be recognized on a national level and proud to be one of only two schools in the state to make the top 100 list.”
By collecting school data each year, U.S. News presents the latest admissions, employment rates, faculty statistics, and other important quality indicators to help prospective students make informed decisions. Helpful. At USNews.com, a prospective student can see how USM compares to other institutions and how rankings are calculated.
For more information about the USM College of Education and Human Sciences, call 601.266.4568.