Carnegie Foundation labels Saint Martin's University as an Opportunity College and University 

The Carnegie Foundation recognized Saint Martin's University in Lacey as an Opportunity College and University, the university announced in a news release sent to The JOLT News.  

The foundation’s classification system highlighted the university as a model institution for studying how campuses can foster student success. 

"This recognition affirms what we at Saint Martin's have long striven to be: a university where students from all walks of life can find the support, opportunity and community they need to achieve meaningful personal transformation and professional success," said Saint Martin’s University President Bill Brownsberger in a statement that accompanied the announcement.

According to the news release, the Opportunity Colleges and Universities  designation is among the newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification published this month by the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation.  

The methodology for the new classification utilizes multidimensional groupings of the 2025 Institutional Classification to examine student access and earnings between similar colleges and universities.   

“This new classification examines the extent to which institutions foster opportunities for student success by measuring whether institutions are enrolling students reflective of the communities they serve and how the earnings of those students compare to peers in their area,” the news release states.

For this year, a total of 479 institutions were recognized as Opportunity Colleges and Universities, which is approximately 16% of all the country’s colleges and universities that are in the Student Access and Earnings Classification.  

Saint Martin’s has committed to value hospitality, service and community, and has consistently provided educational opportunities that give students the tools to transform their lives, the news release states.

In 2024, the university was nationally recognized in the U.S. News & World Report for its commitment to social mobility, ranking No. 34 among regional universities in the West.  

This ranking gauges the level of support universities give to economically disadvantaged students in achieving academic success and improving their long-term outcomes.  

“Saint Martin’s serves a highly vibrant and diverse student population that reflects its commitment to access and social mobility. For the 2024-25 academic year, 61% of students identify as students of color, 39% are the first in their families to attend college, and 36% receive Pell Grants, indicating significant financial need," the news release states.

"These demographics underscore the (university’s) role in serving our communities and providing transformative educational opportunities to those who have been historically underrepresented in higher education."

Saint Martin’s offers individualized academic advising, career preparation and mentorship programs to better support all students. The move ensures that students succeed not just in college, but also after graduation.  

"At Saint Martin’s, we intentionally design our admissions and financial aid practices to remove barriers and open doors,” said Patty Lemon, Dean of Admissions and Enrollment, in a statement that accompanied the announcement.

“This ranking affirms our commitment to reach students who may not have seen college as a possibility — and to make sure they have the resources, guidance and support to not only attend, but thrive. Our mission is to help students build pathways to the futures they dream about.”    

Saint Martin’s is the only Catholic Benedictine university in the Pacific Northwest.