CSU earns high rankings for social mobility, student experience
(September 24, 2024) - Clayton State University saw a sizeable jump in its institutional placement upon the reveal of the U.S. News & World Report 2025 Best Colleges rankings.
According to the U.S. News & World Report, Clayton State officially ranks #26 in Social Mobility – Regional Universities (South) – an impressive 12-spot gain from the institution’s 2024 ranking, where CSU ranked #38 in the same category.
“Our growth in the U.S. News & World Report Social Mobility rankings confirms the work we are doing at CSU is moving in the right direction,” said Dr. Georj Lewis, Clayton State University President. “Our holistic approach to Social Mobility through our new strategic plan, is foundationally based upon building student success. We are enrolling students with a focus on their career after they graduate and we continue to invest in academic programs that have a significant return on investment, even as we explore new programs in demand in the future.”
The higher ranking also comes just months after the university launched its 2024-2027 Strategic Plan: Transforming Today for Tomorrow, which places a strong emphasis on prioritizing Social Mobility as CSU’s core mission.
Additionally, U.S. News & World Report also ranked Clayton State University at #43 in Top Public Schools – Regional Universities (South), a two-rank gain from 2024; #86 in Overall Rank – Regional Universities (South), a five-rank gain from 2024; #314 for Bachelor of Science in Nursing Programs, an 88-rank gain from 2024; and #392 in Undergraduate Business Programs, an 11-rank gain from 2024.
Additionally, the Wall Street Journal also provided a pair of impressive rankings for Clayton State University in September 2024, deeming it the fifth-best university in the state of Georgia as well as #36 in the nation for student experience.
Clayton State’s prioritization of Social Mobility was further recognized by the WSJ, who ranked CSU #51 nationwide in the category.
Asst. Provost and Asst. VP of Academic Affairs and Faculty Affairs Dr. J. Celeste Walley-Jean, like Lewis, is beyond proud of the university’s dedication and hard work to warrant such rankings, calling them a “tremendous validation of Clayton State’s ongoing efforts to create a high-quality, cost-effective, inclusive, and supportive teaching environment.”
While she is applauding CSU’s improving rankings alongside the rest of Laker Nation, she’s already focused on making sure that next year’s experiences for students are even better than they currently are.
To do so, she says the institution’s goals of improving student experience, academic quality, and social mobility can be achieved by “focusing on increasing graduation and retention rates, expanding financial aid and scholarship opportunities, deepening student engagement initiatives,” and more.
“These rankings serve as both a point of pride and a reminder of the work that still lies ahead,” Walley-Jean said. “While we celebrate these achievements, we must continue to push for innovation and excellence. The rankings reflect progress, but they also highlight areas where we can continue to grow and improve. As we look toward the future, we remain committed to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive at Clayton State University."
Clayton State University emphasizes personalized academic advising, tutoring services, and career counseling, to not only enhance the overall student experience, but also supports our mission of social mobility. Our engaging faculty and a supportive campus culture foster strong connections, making it easier for students to succeed academically.