45 GA Schools Named Among 2021's Best Colleges: U.S. News List
GEORGIA — As students and colleges across the nation grapple with the effects of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, U.S. News & World Report on Monday remained steadfast with the release of its 2021 edition of Best U.S. Colleges, a list that includes 45 schools in Georgia.
Despite how the pandemic has forced current and potential students to alter college plans, U.S. News said in a news release that it must “continue providing students and their families with the tools they need to help find the right school for them.”
The data used for this year’s rankings was gathered in spring and early summer 2020; however, the publication noted that the pandemic did not affect the numbers.
See more detailed methodologies and frequently asked questions about the rankings.
These Georgia colleges and universities were included in this year’s rankings:
National Universities
Emory University, Atlanta. Ranked 21.
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta. Ranked 35.
University of Georgia, Athens. Ranked 47.
Mercer University, Macon. Ranked 160.
Georgia State University, Atlanta. Ranked 206.
Augusta University, Augusta. Ranked in the bottom 90 of national universities.
Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta. Ranked in the bottom 90 of national universities.
Georgia Southern University, Statesboro. Ranked in the bottom 90 of national universities.
Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw. Ranked in the bottom 90 of national universities.
University of West Georgia, Carrollton. Ranked in the bottom 90 of national universities.
Valdosta State University, Valdosta. Ranked in the bottom 90 of national universities.
National Liberal Arts Colleges
Spelman College, Atlanta. Ranked 54.
Agnes Scott College, Decatur. Ranked 61.
Covenant College, Lookout Mountain. Ranked 140.
Wesleyan College, Macon. Ranked 149.
Morehouse College, Atlanta. Ranked 155.
Oglethorpe University, Atlanta. Ranked 166.
Brewton-Parker College, Mount Vernon. (Ranked in bottom 50 of top national liberal arts schools.)
Young Harris College,Young Harris. (Ranked in bottom 50 of top national liberal arts schools.)
Regional Colleges
LaGrange College, LaGrange. Ranked 5.
Toccoa Falls College, Toccoa Falls. Ranked 26.
Emmanuel College, Franklin Springs. Ranked 33.
Truett McConnell University, Cleveland. Ranked 47.
Middle Georgia State University, Macon. Ranked 50. (tie)
Point University, West Point. Ranked 50. (tie)
Gordon State College, Barnesville. Ranked 61.
Georgia Gwinnett College, Lawrenceville. Ranked 66.
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Tifton. Ranked in bottom 20 regional colleges.
College of Coastal Georgia, Brunswick. Ranked in bottom 20 regional colleges.
Dalton State College, Dalton. Ranked in bottom 20 regional colleges.
Paine College, Augusta. Ranked in bottom 20 regional colleges.
Regional Universities
Berry College, Mount Berry. Ranked 4.
Georgia College & State University, Milledgeville. Ranked 21.
Brenau University, Gainesville. Ranked 36.
University of North Georgia, Dahlonega. Ranked 36.
Piedmont College, Demorest. Ranked 53. (tie)
Shorter University, Rome. Ranked 53. (tie)
Columbus State University, Columbus. Ranked 73.
Reinhardt University, Waleska. Ranked 89.
Albany State University, Albany. Ranked in bottom 30 regional universities.
Clayton State University, Morrow. Ranked in bottom 30 regional universities.
Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley. Ranked in bottom 30 regional universities.
Georgia Southwestern State University, Americus. Ranked in bottom 30 regional universities.
Savannah State University, Savannah. Ranked in bottom 30 regional universities.
Thomas University, Thomasville. Ranked in bottom 30 regional universities.
Princeton University is once again No. 1 among National Universities, and Williams College remains in the top spot among National Liberal Arts Colleges.
For Top Public Schools, the University of California - Los Angeles is No. 1 among National Universities. The United States Naval Academy ranks No. 1 for Top Public Schools among National Liberal Arts Colleges.
To rank colleges, U.S. News first placed each school into a category based on its mission and, in some cases, its geographical location in the United States. U.S. News then evaluated more than 1,400 colleges and universities on 17 indicators of academic quality. The colleges are ranked based on their overall scores.
This year’s edition includes several methodology updates. The new measures look at timely topics such as student debt, social mobility and test-blind admissions policies. U.S. News also added new weights and indicators to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and added a new ranking for computer science programs.
See all of 2021’s Best U.S. Colleges by U.S. News & World Report.
This article originally appeared on the Atlanta Patch
