Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia continues to rank among the nation’s elite public research universities, according to U.S. News & World Report, which placed the institution at No. 20 on the list contained in its Best Colleges 2015 edition, released today.
The university’s Terry College of Business increased its standing, moving six places to No. 21 for best undergraduate business schools.
“While specific numerical rankings will vary from year to year, I am pleased that the University of Georgia continues to be recognized among the leading public universities in the nation,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “Our high standing overall, and in specific programs, provides more evidence of the outstanding academic experience offered at this institution.”
UGA has landed among the top 20 public universities six out of the last 10 years. This year, it was one of two SEC schools to make that list—along with the University of Florida.
The Terry College continues to rank top in the nation for its insurance and risk management program, placing first again this year among the best business specialties. Its real estate program was fourth.
“While we never want to put too much stock into rankings, I am pleased that the Terry College is becoming recognized for the top flight education and career opportunities we provide to students,” said Terry College Dean Benjamin C. Ayers. “I am proud to see that our ambition to create a true culture of success is being recognized nationally.”
U.S. News & World Report surveyed 1,365 colleges and universities in 2013. To decide its top national universities, it measured an institution’s assessment by peers and counselors, retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, graduation rate performance (the difference between actual and predicted graduation rates) and the alumni giving rate. To be considered a national university, an institution must offer a full range of undergraduate majors, plus master’s and doctoral programs, and emphasize faculty research.
Helping UGA in its national ranking was its average freshman retention rate of 94 percent in 2013, the year selected for the 2015 edition’s survey. The university’s graduation rate was predicted to be 81 percent but was actually higher at 83 percent. In the same year, 40 percent of UGA classes had fewer than 20 students while only 11 percent had more than 50.
The 2015 college rankings are available online at www.usnews.com/colleges. They will be published in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2015 edition, available Sept. 23.