2015 2015: UMass Dartmouth earns Top 25 U.S. ranking from Washington Monthly

Washington Monthly ranks UMass Dartmouth at #24 on its list of best master's institutions in the United States; Ranking based on “contribution to the public good”: social mobility, civic engagement, and research

UMass Dartmouth has earned its highest ranking to-date in Washington Monthly magazine’s annual College Guide. The University ranked #24 on the list of best master’s institutions in the United States. Washington Monthly rates schools based on their “contribution to the public good”  in three broad categories: Social Mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), Research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and PhDs), and Service (encouraging students to give something back to their country).

“With this ranking, Washington Monthly is measuring the profound impact that universities have on individuals, communities and society,” Chancellor Divina Grossman said. “UMass Dartmouth’s high ranking is a credit to the dedication of our faculty, students, and staff to our mission to serve as an intellectual catalyst for economic, social and cultural transformation.”

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching selected UMass Dartmouth to receive the 2015 Community Engagement Classification, recognizing the University's commitment to serving the SouthCoast and the Commonwealth.  In December UMass Dartmouth was recognized as among the national Top 20 in community service. This nationwide designation is part of the 2014 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, and recognizes UMass Dartmouth and its students for their commitment to service-learning and volunteer service.

In the past year, UMass Dartmouth students have dedicated 201,547 hours of community service at a value of $5.4 million to the community. More than 100 UMass Dartmouth faculty members taught more than 200 service-learning classes this past academic year that exposed close to 5,000 students to service-learning, taking part in projects that benefit our community.

UMass Dartmouth’s $27 million research enterprise is focused on discovery that advances the economy and quality of life across the region and Commonwealth while also having global impact. Sustainable fisheries, coastal preservation, Portuguese culture, big data, bio-engineering, and climate change are some of the fields where the university has earned a national reputation. Major federal funding comes from the National Science Foundation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Department of Defense.  Major recent awards include: $343,000 from the National Science Foundation to train future biology researchers, $271,000 from the Air Force to develop airplane design simulations, and $150,000 from environmental organizations and federal agencies to conduct fisheries stock assessments.

“UMass Dartmouth’s high ranking is a credit to the dedication of our faculty, students, and staff to our mission to serve as an intellectual catalyst for economic, social and cultural transformation.” - Chancellor Divina Grossman

More than 4,000 UMass Dartmouth students receive grant or scholarship aid. More than one third of students receiving financial aid are awarded federal Pell Grants, which are reserved for students with the most financial need.  

UMass Dartmouth distinguishes itself as a vibrant public university actively engaged in personalized teaching and innovative research, and acting as an intellectual catalyst for regional economic, social, and cultural development. UMass Dartmouth's mandate to serve its community is realized through countless partnerships, programs, and other outreach efforts to engage the community, and apply its knowledge to help address local issues and empower others to facilitate change for all.