Webster University Ranks First in Missouri for Graduating Minority Students with Master’s Degrees

Webster University conferred more graduate degrees to students who identify as an ethnic minority than any other university in Missouri, according to Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine. For the 31st year in a row, Webster was listed in the magazine’s annual ranking of the 100 top institutions of higher education that conferred the most undergraduate and graduate degrees to students who identify as Black, Asian, Latino or Native American. 

The magazine separately lists the number of bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and doctoral degrees conferred overall by each institution in the country and then breaks them down by ethnicity. Webster ranked first in Missouri for the most graduate degrees awarded to students who self-identify as ethnic minorities, as well as first in the categories of graduate degrees to Black students and graduate degrees to Native American students. 

“For more than three decades, Webster University has been recognized by Diverse Issues in Higher Education for leadership in meeting the educational needs of students and their communities,” said Webster University Chancellor Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble. “Since our founding, Webster has drawn its strength from the diversity of its students and has opened doors for thousands of graduates over the years, providing them with a strong foundation for their future. Our commitment to excellence is based on a model of inclusion: assuring both access and success for a singularly diverse student body.” 

The study is the only national report of graduate degrees earned by Black, Hispanic, Asian American and Native American students by U.S. colleges and universities. The rankings were compiled using data collected by the U.S. Department of Education during the 2019-2020 academic year. The complete DIHE “Top 100” survey can be found in the Oct. 13 issue of the magazine. 

“Webster’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is a core tenet of everything that we do, and a primary ingredient to our success,” said Webster University President Julian Z. Schuster. “By having a diverse student body, we strengthen our academic offerings because the variations in opinions and experiences add multiple dimensions to classroom discussions and academic projects.”

Webster Ranked:

• First in Missouri for total number of master’s degrees conferred to Black, Latino, Asian and Native American students, 11th among all nonprofits in the nation, and 27th overall. Webster was the only Missouri institution to be listed in the top 100. 
• First in Missouri, third among all independent nonprofit institutions and 10th overall for the most graduate degrees awarded to Black students. Webster University was the only Missouri institution to make the top 100. 
• First in Missouri, 10th among all independent nonprofit institutions and 61st overall for graduate degrees awarded to Native American students. Washington University in St. Louis was the only other Missouri institution in the top 100 list for Native American graduate degrees. It ranked 87th.

At Webster University, 60% of graduate and undergraduate students worldwide self-identify as an ethnic minority. According to Diverse Issues in Higher Education, in 2019-2020, Webster University conferred 1,396 graduate degrees to students in the United States who self-identified as an ethnic minority.

For the past decade, U.S. News & World Report ranked Webster University among the most economically diverse universities in the country. This ranking cites the high percentage of Webster students receiving Pell Grants, indicating they come from households whose incomes are less than $52,000 per year. 

Webster University offers more than 50 scholarships to students from under-represented groups, including the Dr. Donald M. Suggs Scholarship. The Suggs Scholarship, awarded at Webster since 2013, is designed to increase the recruitment and retention of highly talented undergraduate students who typically are underrepresented at institutions of higher education. Currently, Webster University has 32 students in the program, more than double than any other institution in the Suggs Scholarship program.

The University also promotes numerous diversity programs, including an annual Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Conference that attracts national and international speakers. To learn more about Webster’s diversity efforts, visit our DEI webpage..