Education

These are the best colleges in GA and AL, according to U.S. News & World Report rankings

By Mark Rice

September 16, 2021 1:34 PM

Columbus State University students walk on campus. Jay Thomas Columbus State University

While college football fans argue about their team’s rankings, another tradition of the fall semester involves different rankings that also spark debates.

For the 37^th year straight year, U.S. News & World Report has published its annual list of Best Colleges.

According to its website, the magazine assessed 1,466 American institutions granting bachelor’s degrees. The assessment was based on 17 measures of academic quality, such as graduation and retention rates, reputation, resources, student-faculty ratio and selectivity.

Here are the rankings for colleges and universities in Georgia and Alabama:

Georgia university national rankings

21. Emory
38. Georgia Tech
48. Georgia
162. Mercer
239. Georgia State
299-391. Augusta University, Clark Atlanta, Georgia Southern, Kennesaw State, West Georgia and Valdosta State don’t have individual rankings, but they are in the lumped together in the last group.

Alabama university national rankings

99. Auburn
136. Samford
148. Alabama and UAB tied
263. Alabama-Huntsville
299-391. South Alabama.

Georgia liberal arts college national rankings

54. Spelman
66. Agnes Scott
128. Morehouse
146. Covenant
157. Wesleyan
165. Oglethorpe
168-222. Brewton-Parker and Young Harris.

Alabama liberal arts college national rankings

128. Birmingham-Southern
168-222. Judson, Spring Hill, Stillman and Talledega.

Georgia regional university rankings in the South

4. Berry
21. Georgia College & State University
35. North Georgia
40. Brenau
57. Piedmont
74. Columbus State
80. Shorter
104-137. Albany State, Clayton State, Fort Valley State, Georgia Southwestern State, Reinhardt, Savannah State and Thomas.

Alabama regional university rankings in the South

17. Tuskegee
26. Montevallo
27. North Alabama
44. Troy
70. Alabama State and Auburn-Montgomery tied
77. Jacksonville State
93. West Alabama
104-137. Alabama A&M and Faulkner.

Georgia regional college rankings in the South

10. LaGrange
25. Toccoa Falls
40. Emmanuel
44. Middle Georgia and Truett McConnell tied
58. Georgia Gwinnett
71-93. Abraham Baldwin, Coastal Georgia, Dalton State, Gordon State, Paine and Point.

Alabama regional college rankings in the South

13. Huntingdon
15. Mobile
41. Oakwood
71-93. Miles.

Mark Rice

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

706-576-6272

Mark Rice is the Ledger-Enquirer’s editor. He has been covering Columbus and the Chattahoochee Valley for more than 30 years. He welcomes your local news tips, feature story ideas, investigation suggestions and compelling questions.