XULA ranked No. 1 among southern schools

Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) is still first among the nation’s colleges and universities in the number of African- American graduates who go on to complete medical school, according to data compiled by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

The special report, “Top Undergraduate Institutions Supplying Black or African- American Medical School Graduates,” covers the period from 2011-2017, during which time Xavier had 180 of its graduates earn their medical degrees while the second-place school had 150. The report, as obtained by Xavier directly from the AAMC, includes the number of Black or African-American graduates who completed medical school for each of the top 16 undergraduate institutions listed.

“We are delighted to note this reaffirmation of Xavier’s prominent role in the education of young African-American doctors,” said Xavier President Dr. Reynold Verret.

Xavier’s elite status first came to light five years ago when Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine obtained the AAMC report for the year 2011. Xavier had 60 African-American graduates earn medical degrees that year. Since that time, Xavier University of Louisiana has continued its rigorous academic training of future doctors as proven by maintaining its place as the leading institution producing African-American doctors.

Xavier, the nation’s only Black Catholic university, also received the highest grade among southern institutions of higher learning based on students’ opinions on how well their college or university is preparing them for their career.

A survey of students conducted for The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings asked students how well they feel their school is preparing them of their chosen career. Respondents were asked to rate their school on a scale of zero to 10.

Xavier’s average rating was 9.7, the highest of any school in the South — and the top nationwide, based on the more than 1,000 schools that were included in the WSJ/THE rankings.

Students’ ratings for career preparation weren’t included in calculating the WSJ/THE rankings. But the rankings did place significant emphasis on outcomes, such as graduate salaries, that are tied to career success.

In the outcomes category of the WSJ/THE rankings — one of four categories used to measure schools — Xavier was No. 288 nationwide. Of the Southern schools that were ranked in the Top 10 in the region in the career preparation survey, the highest outcomes rating went to the Georgia Institute of Technology, which was No. 26 in the category nationally.

Three of the Top 10 schools in the South in the WSJ/THE poll were Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

The South’s Top 10 schools are as follows: 1. Xavier University; 2. Spalding University; 3. North Carolina A&T; 4. Georgia Institute of Technology; 5. Auburn University; 6. Florida A&M University; 7. Thomas More College; 8. Texas Christian University; 9. Meredith College; 10. Texas Lutheran.

This article originally published in the February 5, 2018 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.