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This new ranking list from the US Department of Education will be introduced early in 2025 as part of the Raise the Bar initiative, which aims to build a higher education system that is inclusive, delivers real value to students, and promotes equity and upward mobility.

For the inaugural year of this program, the ED identified 200 institutions as initially eligible to apply for the recognition. Lake Forest College was recognized as one of the top 100 four-year institutions in this category, while the other 100 on the list are two-year colleges. Over 6,000 colleges' data was used for the eligibility determination.

This recognition stands out from other rankings because it focuses on equity on all levels: admission, graduation rate, and post-degree jobs and salaries for low-income and underrepresented student populations. The cost of the degree is weighed against the average salaries graduates report. The aim of this recognition is to uplift institutions of higher education that support all students to complete affordable credentials of value that prepare them for success.

“Imagine a world where schools with the most Pell Grant recipients are ranked highest in U.S. News and World Report, where ‘prestige’ is defined by preparing graduates well to enter the workforce and lead fulfilling lives and careers—sometimes right in their own communities. Imagine universities raising the bar for access and equity becoming household names. This award seeks to make that world possible,” said US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona of the new list. “Instead of giving schools high marks for the number of students they turn down, we want to recognize schools doing the most to lift students up.”

U.S. News & World Report ranked Lake Forest College #1 in the nation for Social Mobility in its latest rankings. This marks the second consecutive year that Lake Forest earned the top spot. 

Read more about the list and the forthcoming rankings.