Golden Gate University Ranked Nation’s Number One University for Adult Students

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 01, 2016 -- Golden Gate University (GGU) was announced as the number one university for adult students in the nation by the Washington Monthly in its annual College Guide and Rankings, Best Colleges for Adult Learners Category.

According to Washington Monthly, nearly half of the 20.2 million students attending university are over 25 years of age. This is the first time that a nationwide ranking has been published saluting “marketable degrees at affordable prices for adult students.”  

The top five four-year colleges for adult learners are:                    

1. Golden Gate University—San Francisco (CA)
2. University of Utah (UT)
3. Park University (MO)
4. Concordia University—St. Paul (MN)
5. University of Colorado-Denver (CO)

“It’s in our DNA to serve adult students and we have been doing it for over 115 years,” said President David J. Fike. “Golden Gate University has a long history in the Bay Area and nationwide as a provider of professionally focused education for working adults. Students can attend part time or full time, in the evenings or on the weekend, and nearly all programs are available online.”

In recent GGU surveys, 88 percent of current GGU students said they are employed, over 91 percent of GGU graduates surveyed believe that GGU positively impacted their professional opportunities, and 94 percent would recommend GGU to a coworker with similar goals. 

To compile the rankings, the Washington Monthly reviewed data for over 571 colleges from the Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) survey, the department’s new College Scorecard database and the College Board’s Annual Survey of Colleges. The metrics that determined each school’s rating included the following:

• Ease of transfer and enrollment
• Flexibility of programs
• Services available for adult learners
• The percent of adult students (age 25+) at the college
• Mean earnings of adult students 10 years after entering college
• Loan repayment of adult students five years after entering repayment
• Tuition and fees for in-district students

“GGU’s rank as the best college for adult learners is a national recognition of what we have been hearing from our students and alumni for years,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs Barbara Karlin.

About Golden Gate University
Golden Gate University (GGU), a private nonprofit, has been helping adults achieve their professional goals by providing undergraduate and graduate education in accounting, law, taxation, business and related areas since 1901. Programs offer maximum flexibility with evening, weekend and online options available. GGU is accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) and the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

Media contact: 
Silvia Baroni
Associate Director of Communications and Media Relations
Golden Gate University
[email protected]
(415) 442-6522