USD President James Harris Tops List of Best Performing College Presidents

A new report compiled by the American Enterprise Institute, which ranks current and former university presidents based on their performance around key issues, placed University of San Diego (USD) President James T. Harris III in the number one spot nationally among sitting presidents. Harris is also the only California president in the top 10.

The ranking evaluated campus leaders on three key dimensions: their ability to keep tuition affordable, improve student success, and expand access for historically underrepresented student groups. The report's key findings also indicate that Harris had the highest retention rate last year (92%) out of the top 10 presidents. Among this exclusive list of top leaders, only three, including Harris, are currently serving presidents.

These components have been part of Harris’ vision for USD since he arrived in 2016 and remain key initiatives in the university’s strategic planning efforts. They also speak to Harris’ deep commitment to expanding access to USD education for all students and his work to align campus efforts to make USD a more inclusive and accessible community.

“While I am deeply humbled by the results of this report, it takes an entire campus community to make progress on these important initiatives. At USD we are blessed with a dedicated community of staff and faculty who put our students first and truly believe in our mission to advance academic excellence while confronting humanity’s urgent challenges,” Harris said.

Harris is known for his approachable personality and warm presence on campus. He often chats with students between classes or takes early morning walks with them near campus. In a recent piece in Inside Higher Ed, Harris describes these experiences as an opportunity to authentically connect with students. With the competing pressures put on college presidents, especially given current events, Harris believes his connections with students keep him grounded and focused on the guiding purpose of his role.

“We can’t lose sight of why we wanted to be a president in the first place,” Harris said. “To have a positive impact on the lives of the students we serve.”

About the University of San Diego

Strengthened by the Catholic intellectual tradition, we confront humanity’s challenges by fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love. With more than 8,000 students from 75 countries and 44 states, USD is among the Top 20 Best Private Schools for Making an Impact according to The Princeton Review. USD’s eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the Knauss School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. In 2021, USD was named a “Laudato Si’ University” by the Vatican with a seven-year commitment to address humanity’s urgent challenges by working together to take care of our common home.