Frost & Sullivan Launches Top Performers Program to Spotlight Overlooked, High-Performing College Programs

New program combines independent market analysis, program-level insights, and ongoing visibility support to help institutions strengthen student recruitment and help students identify best-fit, high-impact programs

SAN ANTONIO, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Frost & Sullivan today announced the launch of its Top Performers program, designed to create more recognition and visibility for colleges and universities in the United States that might be off the radar for many students. The program delivers a fact-based analysis of programs, graduate earnings, licensure outcomes, peer context, and career market indicators. The program addresses a critical market need for unbiased, program-level, location-based ROI analysis, which is currently lacking.

Location-based research recognizes that most students attend college within 50 miles of where they live. Most students are comparing a handful of colleges within driving distance of their current residence, and their primary motivation tends to be the program's economic outcomes. National rankings aren't relevant to most college students, and convoluted metrics used to rank colleges do not address the primary economic motive.

Frost & Sullivan's Top Performers program is an independent, data-driven research program that focuses on an institution's academic programs and the performance of their graduates, rather than an analysis of the entire institution. It identifies high-performing programs at local and regional colleges and universities whose programs are often overlooked by prospective students in the area. Many small- to mid-size institutions' programs have limited regional visibility, which can constrain awareness among prospective students.

"Colleges and universities are competing for students in a market that is changing quickly, with AI answer engines adding a new dimension to how prospective students discover and evaluate their options. Many institutions have strong programs that are not visible beyond a 10-mile radius from campus," said Brian Cotton, Senior Vice President, Growth Advisory, Frost & Sullivan. "Our Top Performers program gives institutions an independent way to identify programs with real market potential and provide prospective students with clearer evidence of why those programs stand out. This independent verification of top-performing programs results in a positive impact for the college, the students, and the region."

An institution's brand is one of its most valuable assets, but institution-level awareness does not always reflect the strength of individual academic programs. Frost & Sullivan's research is designed to uncover high-performing programs that may have limited visibility and provide independent evidence of their performance and market relevance.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Pipeline Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation, and leadership. The company's Growth Pipeline as a Service provides the CEO's Growth Team with transformational strategies and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth opportunities. For over 60 years, Frost & Sullivan has partnered with investors, corporate leaders, and governments to identify, prioritize, and execute transformational growth strategies.

Contact:
Kristina Menzefricke
Marketing & Communications
Global Customer Experience, Frost & Sullivan
kristina.menzefricke@frost.com