Georgia colleges top categories in coveted U.S. News rankings list

Two Georgia women’s colleges were at the top of the class in various categories of the highly-coveted U.S. News & World Report annual rankings of the nation’s best schools.

Agnes Scott College was ranked as being the nation’s most innovative liberal arts college and having the best experience for first-year students. Spelman College was ranked as the nation’s top historically black college and university (HBCU).

A graduate walks across the stage after receiving her degree at the 132nd Spelman College commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 19, 2019, at the Georgia International Convention Center. 

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The rankings were released Monday, and colleges and universities use the rankings as recruiting tools.

Princeton University again topped the list as the nation’s best school. Emory University was the first among Georgia schools on the list, ranking 21st nationally. Other Georgia schools that made the best national universities list included Georgia Tech (29th), the University of Georgia (tied for 50th), Mercer University (tied for 153rd) and Georgia State University (tied for 211th).

Some area schools ranked in the top ten in other categories. Agnes Scott and Georgia State were tied for third and fifth, respectively, for having the best communities for learning. Agnes Scott had the tenth-best study abroad program. Morehouse College was ranked fourth among HBCUs, Georgia State was ranked as having the fifth-best experience for first-year students and Spelman tied with Harvey Mudd College in California as being the sixth most innovative liberal arts college.

First-year Agnes Scott College students traveled to 16 different locations around the world in 2019, such as Ghana, pictured here. PHOTO CREDIT: AGNES SCOTT COLLEGE.

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