Wartburg College is one of the nation’s leading “overperformers” in graduation rates for students from low-income families.

Wartburg was No. 7 among 341 responding national universities and liberal arts colleges in a U.S. News comparison of “overperformers and underperformers” in graduation rates for Pell grant recipients and entire graduating classes during a six-year period.

Pell grants provide federal aid to undergraduates with family incomes under $20,000.

Wartburg had a 70 percent graduation rate for those students compared to 65 percent overall — the same overall six-year rate as U.S. private colleges, but above the 56 percent for public universities.

“It’s nice to see a ranking that directly aligns with Wartburg’s mission and identity,” said Dr. Edith Waldstein, vice president for enrollment management. “Wartburg has prided itself in making an excellent college education available to those desiring and willing to work hard to earn one. We have always served all, including those for whom, at first glance, a college education may not have seemed affordable.”

Waldstein added that the college enrolls “a substantial number of students receiving Pell Grants.”

“Wartburg is the kind of place that excels at meeting students where they are, supporting them and stretching them to success,” she said.

The 2009 Higher Education Opportunity Act requires schools to disclose the graduation rates of students receiving a Pell grant, students receiving a federally subsidized Stafford loan but not a Pell grant and students with neither. 

U.S. News stated, “These three separate graduation rates indicate if a college is successful in serving students from different income levels” and “the proportion of students receiving Pell grants is also considered a measure of economic diversity.”

While the data is not included in the annual U.S. News college rankings, it stated, “In future years we may incorporate them into the rankings model, since this differential graduation rate information is an important outcome measure.”

Wartburg College is one of the nation’s leading “overperformers” in graduation rates for students from low-income families.

Wartburg was No. 7 among 341 responding national universities and liberal arts colleges in a U.S. News comparison of “overperformers and underperformers” in graduation rates for Pell grant recipients and entire graduating classes during a six-year period.

Pell grants provide federal aid to undergraduates from families with incomes up to $45,000, although most of the grants are for those under $20,000. Wartburg had a 70 percent graduation rate for those students. Its overall graduation rate of 65 percent topped the 56 percent overall six-year rate for public universities and equaled the rate for U.S. private colleges.

“It’s nice to see a ranking that directly aligns with Wartburg’s mission and identity,” said Dr. Edith Waldstein, vice president for enrollment management. “Wartburg has prided itself in making an excellent college education available to those desiring and willing to work hard to earn one. We have always served all, including those for whom, at first glance, a college education may not have seemed affordable.”

Waldstein added that the college enrolls “a substantial number of students receiving Pell Grants.”

“Wartburg is the kind of place that excels at meeting students where they are, supporting them and stretching them to success,” she said.

The 2009 Higher Education Opportunity Act requires schools to disclose the graduation rates of students receiving a Pell grant, students receiving a federally subsidized Stafford loan but not a Pell grant and students with neither. 

U.S. News stated, “These three separate graduation rates indicate if a college is successful in serving students from different income levels” and “the proportion of students receiving Pell grants is also considered a measure of economic diversity.”

While the data is not included in the annual U.S. News college rankings, it stated, “In future years we may incorporate them into the rankings model, since this differential graduation rate information is an important outcome measure.”