USF Earns National Recognition for Supporting Students’ Economic and Social Mobility

The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, a higher education research organization, rated USF as a “higher access, higher earnings opportunity university” after reviewing the university’s percentage of Pell Grant recipients, the percentage of students from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds, and data on graduates’ earnings eight years after entering USF.

“It’s an honor to be named an opportunity university,” said Rebecca Hong, vice provost of student success at USF. “This marks USF as an institution that fosters students’ economic and social mobility.”

The recognition by the Carnegie Foundation “is an affirmation of USF’s Jesuit mission and our commitment to equity, access, and student success,” Hong said. “This designation underscores the impact of our work and inspires us to keep advancing opportunities for every student to thrive.”

The Opportunity Colleges and Universities designation is part of a new Student Access and Earnings classification published by the Carnegie Foundation. The foundation measures whether institutions enroll students reflective of the communities they serve and how the earnings of those students compare to peers in their area.

In 2025, the Carnegie Foundation identified 479 institutions as opportunity colleges and universities, which is about 16 percent of all U.S. colleges and universities that are in the Student Access and Earnings classification.

The Carnegie Commission on Higher Education developed the Carnegie Classifications in 1973 to support its research and policy analysis. The Carnegie Classifications will next be updated in 2028.