Best Georgia colleges: 2017 US News rankings

U.S. News & World Report released its annual rankings of the nation's top colleges and universities Tuesday morning.

Many institutions eagerly await the rankings as a marketing tool to recruit prospective students.

Here are five things for Georgians to know about the rankings:

They're Number One. Spelman College was ranked as the nation's top Historically Black College & University. The all women's college, near downtown Atlanta, has the highest graduation rate of any HBCU, 74 percent, and of freshmen in the top quarter of their high school graduating class at 73 percent.
Emory University had the highest ranking of any Georgia school on the national universities list. The university was ranked 21st. Princeton University was the top-ranked institution on the national list.
It's a deal. Emory and Mercer universities were both considered among the best value for national universities, ranking 17th and 39th, respectively. The best values are based on factors such as the average cost after receiving needs-based grants.
Two University System of Georgia institutions finished among the top 20 national public universities. Georgia Tech ranked seventh in that category while the University of Georgia was ranked 16th, two spots higher than last year.
Agnes Scott College was ranked the second most innovative national liberal arts institution. The all female college, in Decatur, also ranked as the third most ethnically-diverse national liberal arts institution.

Best quality of life: Emory University (No. 3), Agnes Scott College (No. 20) Best undergraduate teaching: Georgia State University (Tied No. 8) Great financial aid: Emory University (No. 15) Most innovative: Georgia State University (No. 4) Most conservative students: Berry College (No. 20) Most liberal students: Agnes Scott College (No. 12) Most LGBTQ-friendly: Agnes Scott College (No. 7) Lots of race/class interaction: Agnes Scott College (No. 20) Most beautiful campus: Berry College (No. 9) Most active student government: Agnes Scott College (No. 9) Best college dorms: Emory University (No. 8)

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