The University of Louisiana is ranked No. 27 among universities in the U.S. at helping lower-income students earn degrees.

For the third straight year, the University has been ranked in Washington Monthly magazine's college guide as a top 30 engine of social mobility, according to the September/October 2014 issue.

The ranking in the social mobility category "rewards colleges that do a good job of both graduating students and keeping costs low," according to the college guide. Its overall ranking of universities is based on three metrics that are weighted equally: social mobility, research and service.

The guide measures key research outputs, the quality and total dollar amount of scientific grants awarded, the number of graduates going on to earn doctoral degrees and the number of graduates who later participate in public service.

UL's overall rank was 172 among 280 national universities. Other Louisiana universities in the national university ranking were Tulane University (62), Louisiana State University (185), Louisiana Tech University (233) and the University of New Orleans (269).

Washington Monthly, a nonprofit magazine based in Washington, D.C., covers national politics and government. Since 2005, it has published annual rankings of four-year institutions, with lists for national universities, liberal arts colleges, master's universities, and baccalaureate colleges. It also ranks community colleges.

The University of California, San Diego was best overall among national universities. The University of Texas at El Paso was first in the social mobility category.

View Washington Monthly's college guide.

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