In more good news that continues Saint Augustine’s University’s climb back from recent troubles, the university placed 65^th among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” rankings for 2025, four spots above last year’s No. 69 ranking.

Among Regional Colleges in the South, Saint Augustine’s tied for 86^th, a rank that puts the university at exactly the same spot as last year.

“SAU is resilient, and our recent climb in the U.S. News & World Report rankings reaffirms the exceptional quality of education we provide,” said SAU Interim President Dr. Marcus H. Burgess. “Our improved position among HBCUs underscores our commitment to providing an outstanding educational experience, substantial financial resources, and a supportive environment for all our students. Despite past challenges, we invite our community to believe in our mission and support us as we rebuild and enhance our university for future generations.”

Saint Augustine’s encouraging ranking was buttressed by a good showing in several important statistical categories. For instance, SAU ranked:

• No. 11 in “Student-Teacher Ratio.”
• No. 19 in “Financial Resources,” defined as the amount an institution spends per student on instruction, research, student services, and related educational expenditures.
• No. 54 (tie) in “Top Performers on Social Mobility,” defined as success in enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants.

Among other data in the report, the overwhelming majority of SAU graduates (70%) earned higher salaries than a typical high school graduate. Among the institutions that supplied data, SAU ranked 26^th for students ranking in the 25^th percentile for SAT/ACT scores.

In the faculty salary rank parameter, we have secured the 57th spot among all regional colleges, surpassing institutions with higher overall rankings. This achievement is a testament to our university’s commitment to attracting and retaining top-tier faculty, reinforcing our dedication to academic excellence and institutional growth.

Dr. Indrani Singh,Interim Vice President, Institutional/Undergraduate Research and Effectiveness for Saint Augustine’s University, was strongly encouraged by the university’s showings in this year’s rankings. She commented: “Congratulations to the Falcon family for the remarkable progress on the US News report! This accomplishment reflects our shared dedication and pursuit of excellence. Let’s continue to soar higher together!”