For the 10th consecutive year, the University of Georgia has placed in the top 20 among the nation’s best public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 rankings. UGA shares the No. 19 rank with Purdue University.

“The University of Georgia consistently stands among the nation’s leading universities,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “Our achievements over the past decade are a testament to the extraordinary talent of our faculty, staff and students, and to the unwavering support of alumni and friends who continually help us build on a strong foundation of excellence.”

UGA and Georgia Tech remain the only two Georgia institutions in the top 20, making Georgia and California the only two states with multiple universities ranked in that tier. Among private and public universities, UGA placed No. 46 in the nation, ranked just above Case Western Reserve University and Texas A&M University and tying with Purdue University and the University of Rochester.

The USNWR rankings echo recognition from earlier this year. UGA ranked No. 18 among public universities nationwide according to Forbes and moved into the top 10 national public universities ranking by Niche. UGA was also ranked No. 2 in the nation for best student life and No. 10 for best college campuses according to Niche. Additional accolades from Princeton Review include No. 12 among best value public schools, No. 8 for best alumni networks and No. 10 for access to financial aid.

Several individual university programs received high marks in the USNWR rankings. The Terry College of Business rose to a record No. 19, up four from the previous year, for undergraduate business programs. Once again, the college’s insurance program ranked No. 1 in the nation. Terry’s real estate program was No. 4, its management and information systems program was No. 13, and the marketing program ranked No. 25.

Earlier this year, Terry’s full-time MBA placed among the top 20 public programs nationally in the USNWR rankings of best graduate schools. The program was rated by the Financial Times as No. 1 best value for the money worldwide. The Terry College’s full-time MBA also achieved a record high ranking of No. 23 overall and No. 7 among public universities according to recent data from Bloomberg Businessweek.

UGA has also been recognized by USNWR for its academic innovation, ranking No. 33 among the nation’s most innovative schools. In addition, the university placed No. 27 in undergraduate teaching.

“Our strong track record in national rankings highlights UGA’s commitment to student achievement and the strategic investments we have made to support their success,” said Marisa Pagnattaro, vice president for instruction and senior vice provost for academic planning. “These rankings affirm how our targeted initiatives including experiential and active learning are making a measurable difference in student success.”

That student success translates to real-world value. UGA is one of only nine public universities in the U.S. with a 90% or higher six-year graduation rate. More than two-thirds of graduates remain in Georgia following graduation, and 95% are employed or continuing education within six months.

This year’s incoming class is one of the most academically qualified in the university’s history, boasting an average high school GPA of 4.17, an average ACT score of 31 and an average SAT score of 1356. The institution remains invested in students, increasing the accessibility of a UGA education with more than 1,000 need-based endowed scholarships.

Nowhere is UGA’s commitment to excellence more evident than in the number of students who have received prestigious scholarships and fellowships. In the last decade, UGA has had four Rhodes Scholars, 64 Boren Fellow and Scholar offers, 11 Schwarzman Scholars, three Truman Scholars and 22 Goldwater Scholars. The university has been a top 3 producer of Rhodes Scholars among public institutions for the last 30 years.

The university also continues to reach record highs in research. R&D expenditures soared 77% over the past decade, reaching $628.1 million for FY 2024, with continued growth projected. UGA once again ranked No. 1 in the nation for the number of commercial products to market based on its research, according to an annual survey conducted by AUTM. The university has ranked within the top 5 on this influential list for more than a decade.

“The value and excellence of a University of Georgia education continues to grow year over year,” said Benjamin C. Ayers, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “As the birthplace of public higher education in America, we are proud to continue our storied tradition of providing world-class learning opportunities, innovative research breakthroughs and extensive community outreach.”

Writing by: Hannah Gallant
Photography by: Stephanie Schupska, Chamberlain Smith and Dorothy Kozlowski