The University of Georgia remains esteemed as one of the nation’s premier institutions of higher learning, securing impressive positions in the most recent evaluations by Forbes and Niche.

In the 2026 Forbes ratings, UGA ascended to No. 18 among public universities across the country, a gain of one rank from the previous year. The institution also improved its standing to No. 11 among Southern universities, advancing by two positions.

Forbes assesses colleges and universities using various criteria, including return on investment, debt levels, and graduate outcomes.

“This national acknowledgement is a clear testament to the commitment of our faculty and staff as well as the accomplishments of our students,” remarked UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “The University of Georgia takes pride in being consistently regarded among the nation’s finest public universities, and we are dedicated to enhancing academic excellence, fostering student success, and serving Georgia and beyond.”

UGA’s standing in academic excellence, student engagement, and campus atmosphere was further validated in the 2026 Niche rankings.

The university entered the top 10 among national public universities at No. 10, rising from No. 11 the previous year. UGA also secured the No. 2 spot in the nation for best student life and No. 10 for best college campuses, highlighting the dynamic, supportive, and engaging experiences students have in Athens.

Niche awarded the university an overall grade of A+, its highest accolade.

The Niche assessments are formulated by analyzing various factors, including acceptance rates, alumni income, and accolades achieved by faculty. These evaluations also take into account feedback from nearly 500,000 students.

These recent honors build upon UGA’s strong performance in the 2025 Princeton Review Best Colleges rankings, unveiled in early August. The university was recognized as No. 12 among the top 50 best value public universities.

Further acknowledgments from Princeton Review included No. 8 for best alumni networks among public institutions, No. 10 for financial aid accessibility, and No. 16 for internship opportunities.

“These new rankings highlight the transformative educational experience we offer at the University of Georgia,” stated Benjamin C. Ayers, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “Our ascending national rank signifies not only the exceptional teaching and research of our faculty but also the extensive support systems that enable our students to excel both in and out of the classroom.”

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