Top Of The Top 100

Black Issues in Higher Education, August 19, 1999 by Robin M. Bennefield

In 1992, Black Issues produced the first annual Top 100 ranking of colleges and universities. The ranking is based on each institution's degree production performance among people of color in various degree categories. Over the years, the special reports featuring these rankings have become among our top selling editions.

For the 15th Anniversary Edition, we identified schools that have most consistently appeared at the top of the Top 100. We then selected the 15 institutions that have most consistently appeared at the top of our annual lists, awarded points corresponding to their rank for each year, and calculated an average score. For example, a school ranking third for two years and then fifth for the remaining six would have an average score of 4.5. Finally, the schools were arranged from 1 to 15 based upon the eight-year average score. Below are the results of the anniversary rankings:

15 Top 100 Minority Baccalaureate Degree Producers

1) University of California-Berkeley (Average Rank: 1.6): Berkeley holds an average rank of 1.6 over the 8 years of the Top 100. The school has ranked in the top five since 1992 and made the number ranking one four years in a row, from 1993 to 1996.

2) University of California-Los Angeles (2.0): UCLA has also ranked in the top five schools producing minority graduates and the school has ranked in the top 2 since 1994. UCLA has ranked number one in the last three years.

3) Florida International University (3.2): In the first year of the ranking, Florida International ranked ninth, by 1996 it consistently placed third.

3) University of Hawaii-Manoa (3.2): In 1992 and 1993, the University of Hawaii-Manoa ranked second among schools producing minority baccalaureates, in 1994 and 1995, it ranked third, and since 1995 it has ranked fourth.

5) University of Texas-Austin (5.7): UT-Austin has consistently ranked fifth in the Top 100 since 1993, until this year when it placed sixth.

6) San Francisco State University (7.1): In the first year of the ranking, San Francisco State ranked fifth, in 1999, it ranked 11th and remained among the top 15 schools graduating minorities.

7) University of California-Irvine (8.6): UC-Irvine has risen from number 19 in 1992 to number 5 in 1999, holding steadily over the last eight years at the sixth or seventh spot.

8) California State University-Long Beach (9.2): In the first four years of the Top 100 listing, Cal State-Long Beach usually placed at number 7, 8, or 9.

9) California State University-Los Angeles (9.5): In the last four years of the Top 100 listing, Cal State-Los Angeles has over taken Long Beach and ranked at number 7 or 8.

10) San Jose State University (11.1): In 1992, San Jose State ranked seventh and 15 years later it holds the same rank. Over the last eight years it has remained among the top 10 ranking schools.

11) University of Washington (13.6): The University of Washington first appeared on the Top 100 at number 22, over the years it has risen to its current ranking at number 8, holding the 11th spot in the last two years.

12) Rutgers University-New Brunswick (14.7): Rutgers held its highest ranking in 1993 at number 9 and recently it's had a strong showing at number 15.

13) California State University-Fullerton (15.2): Cal State-Fullerton ranked 13th in 1992 and this year the school came in at number 12. Over the years the school has bounced through the rankings usually landing at the 16th, 17th, or 18th spot.

14) San Diego State University (15.5): Over the history of the Top 100, San Diego State has had the most steady ranking, coming in at the 12th, 13th, or 14th spots consistently.

15) University of Maryland-College Park (16.5): The University of Maryland consistently ranked among the top 15 schools graduating minorities until 1996 when it began to falter. This year, UMD moved up a bit in the ranks to number 19.

15 Top African American Baccalaureate Degree Producers among traditionally White and historically Black institutions

1) Howard University (Average Rank: 2.0): Over the course of the rankings, Howard ranked number one and two, dropping below the top 2 only once -- in 1993 when the school ranked 8.

2) Hampton University (3.5): Hampton typically placed among the top 5 schools graduating African American baccalaureates, ranking second and third.

2) North Carolina A&T State University (3.5): A&T held strong over the years at the third and fourth rank.

4) Southern University and A&M College (3.6): In 1992 and 1993, Southern ranked second after Howard. In the last two years, the school has ranked fourth.

5) Florida A&M University (4.5): While FAMU appeared at number 12 in the first year of the Top 100, it soared into the number one spot in 1997 and has held it since.

6) Grambling State University (5.7): Grambling has appeared in the rankings almost consistently at number 5.

7) Jackson State University (7.3): In 1992, Jackson State ranked fifth; this year, it ranked 11th.

8) Norfolk State University (8.6): Over the years, Norfolk State has made a strong showing at the number 8 spot.