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The University of Lethbridge ranked sixth overall in the primarily undergraduate classification in the 2024 Maclean's University Rankings. (Photo: LNN)

University of Lethbridge sees big leap in annual post-secondary rankings from Maclean’s

Oct 13, 2023 | 9:35 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The University of Lethbridge (U of L) saw a significant jump in the latest Maclean’s University Rankings, released on Thursday, October 12, 2023.

Each fall, Maclean’s magazine ranks 50 of the country’s universities, and divides schools into three classifications. They are medical doctorate, comprehensive, and primarily undergraduate. Maclean’s then uses 12 indicators to determine the overall rankings.

In the latest listing by Maclean’s, the U of L was ranked sixth in the primarily undergraduate classification, out of a total of 20 post-secondary institutions in that class. Mount Allison University in New Brunswick placed first overall.

Within the classification, the U of L ranked first in the medical/science grants category.

Officials added that a surge in student scholarship support, “combined with continued excellence in research” led to the post-secondary’s five-spot improvement from the last rankings issued by Maclean’s.

In the scholarships and bursaries section, the U of L went from 16th place to seventh overall. The post-secondary remarked that a commitment to student support through the University of Lethbridge Board of Governors’ pledge of $10 million in match funds for the establishment of new endowed student scholarships will continue to enhance scholarship dollars going forward.

President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Digvir Jayas said, “It is evident the University of Lethbridge is consistently among the best post-secondary schools in the country, which has been reflected in the Maclean’s rankings over a number of years.”

He continued, “Looking ahead, the investment by the Board of Governors in our students, coupled with the tremendous support we’ve been receiving from the community, shows how connected southern Alberta is to our university and the success of our students.”

Jayas noted that while the rankings provide a glimpse at certain aspects of a post-secondary’s operation, they cannot reflect the actual student experience, something that has long been a unique aspect of the U of L.

He stated, “Statistics and indicators can create certain measurements and ULethbridge has consistently fared very well when compared to other schools across the country in those aspects, but they cannot capture what the student experience here in Lethbridge is all about.”

Jayas added, “I am new to the culture here, and in my short time I have seen how unique the ULethbridge experience is — it begins with our people and the work they do to inspire, engage and support our students in their academic careers.”

The full 2024 Maclean’s University Rankings report is available online.

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