The University of Georgia has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by Money in its annual Best Colleges in America ratings.
UGA earned 4.5 out of 5 stars, with Money highlighting the university’s affordability, academic quality and strong student outcomes. Editors also praised UGA’s small class sizes, access to financial aid and academic rigor.
The university has received a 4.5-star rating each year since Money transitioned from numerical rankings to a star-rating system in 2023. Money evaluated more than 700 four-year colleges using 25 separate measures focused broadly on educational quality, affordability and student outcomes.
UGA’s profile highlights the university’s continued strength in value and student success. Among the measures cited are an 87% six-year graduation rate for both transfer students and first-time students, median student debt of $18,500 and median earnings of $48,074 for recent graduates. The publication also reports that 89% of UGA undergraduates receive grant aid, while the average cost for low-income students is $8,085 after financial aid.
Several key indicators have improved since UGA first received a 4.5-star rating in 2023. The average price for low-income students has fallen from $9,800 to $8,085, while the share of graduates earning more than the typical high school graduate has increased from 77% to 82%.
The recognition adds to a growing list of national accolades for UGA.
For the 10th consecutive year, UGA placed in the top 20 among the nation’s best public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 rankings.
UGA and Georgia Tech were the only two Georgia institutions in the top 20, making Georgia and California the only two states with multiple universities ranked in that tier.
In the 2025 Princeton Review best colleges list, UGA ranked No. 12 among the top 50 best value public universities, reflecting its strong combination of educational achievements and return on investment.