Saint Leo Ranks Among Best Universities By U.S. News & World Report

ST. LEO, FL — Saint Leo University was ranked among the best universities in the nation in the 2023 U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges rankings, which was released Monday.

Additionally, the university was ranked 46th in the nation in the Top Performers on Social Mobility category and among the top universities nationally for the most international students and campus ethnic diversity.

This news is a change for Saint Leo, which was ranked among the best regional universities last year. The university received a new classification status for 2023, which elevated it to a new ranking category among other national institutions.

“With a residential campus in the Tampa Bay area, 16 regional education centers, an online learning platform and an increasing number of master’s and doctoral programs, Saint Leo’s national reach continues to grow with thousands of students served each year,” said Saint Leo University President Dr. Ed Dadez. “I am pleased to see that the university was recognized among national institutions for our efforts to offer a quality, liberal arts education, as well as for its ethnic diversity, number of international students and ability to help students succeed.”

Those schools ranked in the national universities category offer a range of undergraduate majors, plus master’s and doctoral programs, and emphasize faculty research or award professional practice doctorates.

The U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, now in its 38th year, help students who plan to pursue a bachelor's degree select a university. The latest edition assesses more than 1,500 U.S. bachelor's degree-granting institutions on 17 measures of academic quality.

This year's rankings considered several factors including graduation and retention rates; graduate indebtedness; social mobility; faculty resources, which takes into account class size and faculty salary; peer assessment by other universities; financial resources; student excellence, which includes performance on standardized tests and high school class standing; and alumni giving.

The social mobility category measures how well schools graduated students who received federal Pell Grants (those typically coming from households whose family incomes are less than $50,000 annually, though most Pell Grant money goes to students with a total family income below $20,000).

Saint Leo University is one of the largest Catholic universities in the nation, offering 62 degree programs to more than 15,800 students each year.

Founded in 1889 by Benedictine monks and sisters, the private nonprofit university is regionally accredited and offers a residential campus in St. Leo, 16 education centers in five states and an online program for students anywhere.

The ranking from U.S. News & World Report kicks off an auspicious year for Saint Leo's recently appointed president.

In July, the Saint Leo University Board of Trustees elected Dadez as the 11th president of the university, following the resignation of former President Jeffrey Senese.

Having held several leadership positions at Saint Leo during the past 22 years, Dadez was the second provost of the university after serving as a visiting professor in graduate dducation. He also held the position of vice president in support of the university’s regional education centers, online learning program, student affairs and campus operations.

“Saint Leo University’s commitment to its core values, Catholic heritage, and close-knit community make it a special place — countless students have thrived here and gone on to make an impact in our world,” Dadez said. “I am excited to work alongside students, faculty, staff and alumni to strengthen the university experience and to help make it possible for more students to pursue their educational and professional goals.”

Prior to Saint Leo University, Dadez held several administrative roles in student affairs and continuing education at The Ohio State University, University of Dayton (Ohio), Michigan State University, Bucknell University (Pennsylvania) and Chowan University (North Carolina).

He also is the author of several academic journal articles and has given more than 85 professional presentations and keynotes at local, state, regional, and national conventions and conferences.

Dadez earned his bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, a master of arts degree from The Ohio State University, a master of business administration from Saint Leo University and a doctoral degree from Michigan State University.