Piedmont College advanced 13 spots in the annual US News & World Report college rankings, which were released September 9.
The popular college guide ranked Piedmont No. 50 among “Regional Universities” in the large 12-state South Region, compared to 63 in 2018 and 68 in 2017.
Rollins College in Florida ranks number 1, followed by The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, and James Madison University in Virginia. Berry College near Rome ranks fourth on the list of Best Regional Universities in the South.
In a new “Social Mobility” ranking that is designed to measure an institution’s success in helping economically disadvantaged students advance in their career and life, the publication ranked Piedmont number 19 in the South Region and first in Georgia.
The US News rankings examine a variety of factors, including tuition, class size, and selectivity. The magazine also groups colleges by the types of degrees offered. Regional Universities, including Piedmont, offer undergraduate and graduate programs, including doctoral degrees.
Piedmont was also the second-highest ranked Georgia institution in the South Regional “Best Value” category. The magazine selects Best Value institutions based on their overall academic quality and the net cost of attending. Berry College ranked number one.
Emory University is the highest-ranked Georgia school among national universities. Emory ranks number 21 on the list ahead of Georgia Tech at number 29. The University of Georgia ranks 50th on US News’ list of Best National Universities.
Affirmation
Institutions move up and down in the rankings over time. But it is rare for a college or university to advance 10 spots or more in overall rankings.
“While rankings are subjective, the US News report affirms what we know. Piedmont is a growing and thriving institution,” said Piedmont President James F. Mellichamp. “The complimentary rankings on value and social movement affirm our values. We continue to add programs that match the interests and demands of students and parents while maintaining class size and keeping college costs affordable.”
Last month, Piedmont welcomed its largest freshman class. Total enrollment at the college’s Demorest and Athens campuses is 2,584, compared to 2,498 last year and 2,368 in 2017, a news release from the college states.
In July, James Magazine, a popular Georgia magazine that covers politics, business, and education in the Peach State, ranked Piedmont as the top private college in Georgia. Wallet Hub, a popular personal finance website, recently ranked the college as the fifth-best institution of higher learning in Georgia.
