Decatur School Named As One Of Nation's Top Liberal Arts Colleges

DECATUR, GA — Agnes Scott College in Decatur has been named as one of the nation's top liberal arts colleges, according to new rankings by U.S. News & World Report. Agnes Scott came in at No. 58, just behind Atlanta's Spelman College at No. 57. Williams College was the top liberal-arts college.

Overall, Georgia has 11 top-ranked national schools in the list of best national colleges for 2020. The 2020 list includes the overall best national universities, as well as rankings for the best liberal-arts colleges, the top public schools, the best value schools and more. Other high ranking national schools in the state included the Georgia Institute of Technology at No. 29 and the University of Georgia at No. 50.

For the 2020 rankings, U.S. News made some changes to help prospective students with their college search. A new set of listings looked at the top performers in social mobility, evaluating which schools best serve underrepresented students. The 2020 methodology also factors in which schools support first-generation college students through graduation.

A total of 1,400 colleges are included in the 2020 rankings. (You can read the full methodology here.)

Here are the top Georgia schools that made the list for national colleges:

• Emory University, Atlanta, No. 21
• Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, No. 29
• University of Georgia, Athens, No. 50
• Mercer University, Macon, No. 153
• Georgia State University, Atlanta, No. 211
• Augusta University, Augusta, NA (ranked in bottom 100 of top national schools)
• Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, NA (ranked in bottom 100 of top national schools)
• Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, NA (ranked in bottom 100 of top national schools)
• Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, NA (ranked in bottom 100 of top national schools)
• University of West Georgia, Carrollton, NA (ranked in bottom 100 of top national schools)
• Valdosta State University, Valdosta, NA (ranked in bottom 100 of top national schools)

Here are the top 5 national universities:

1. Princeton University (NJ)
2. Harvard University (MA)
3. Columbia University (NY) (tie)
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (tie)
3. Yale University (CT) (tie)

Here are the top 3 liberal arts colleges:

1. Williams College (MA)
2. Amherst College (MA)
3. Swarthmore College (PA) (tie)
3. Wellesley College (MA) (tie)
Below are the top 3 public universities:
1. University of California—Los Angeles
2. University of California—Berkeley
3. University of Michigan—Ann Arbor

Read the full U.S. News & World Report study.