BRADFORD, Pa. – Two organizations that evaluate colleges nationwide recognized the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford Monday for excellence as a regional public university.

Pitt-Bradford was one of two Pennsylvania colleges to appear in the top 50 of Washington Monthly magazine’s debut listing of Best Colleges for Rural America. Meanwhile, Niche, an online resource to help high school students find their best college match, declared the campus the best-value public college in Pennsylvania.

One factor behind Pitt-Bradford’s spot on the Best Colleges for Rural America list: alumni earnings. The ranking predicts what graduates should earn four years out based on their demographics — $54,756 for Pitt-Bradford — then compares that to what they’re actually earning: $73,701. Pitt-Bradford graduates are out-earning expectations by nearly $19,000 per year, second among all rural colleges listed.

“This recognition reflects the transformative value of a Pitt-Bradford education,” said President Rick Esch. “Our graduates leave prepared to build successful careers, strengthen their communities, and contribute in meaningful ways. Their success is a powerful measure of the opportunities and experiences we provide for our students.”

Washington Monthly said that the rural colleges listed “are load-bearing pillars of local tax bases, essential infrastructures for rural communities and anchors of civic life.”

Washington Monthly also factored in financial need: Pitt-Bradford’s 499 students who receive Pell Grants from the federal government make it rank 26th in that area, a measure of financial need.

The magazine, based in Washington, D.C., says that it “rates institutions of higher learning on the degree to which they recruit and graduate students of modest means, produce the scholarship and scholars that drive economic growth and human flourishing, and encourage students to be active citizens and serve their country.”

At Niche, Pitt-Bradford also received high marks for two of its programs. The university’s biology program had the fourth-highest public university ranking in Pennsylvania, behind three larger state-related schools: Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh and Temple University in Philadelphia.

Finally, Niche also named Pitt-Bradford’s criminal justice program sixth among public colleges in Pennsylvania.

The recognition comes on the heels of another honor. Earlier this month, Pitt-Bradford was named to the Princeton Review’s Best Regional Colleges.