Augusta University ranked among top colleges in the US

In this year’s Niche rankings, Augusta University earned a B+ and landed in the top 20% percent of colleges in the United States. For best colleges for value, AU also ranks among the top 15% and 23% for public universities.

“Whether we agree with it or not, the press that comes with being ranked highly or not can influence a student’s decision to maybe give us a second look,” said Amy Smith, vice president of enrollment management in the Division of Enrollment and Student Affairs.

Two female students face white board, one writes on it with marker.

AU’s academic programs scored high as well:

Information Technology ranked in the top 14%
Chemistry ranked in the top 22%
Communication, Kinesiology and Physical Therapy ranked in the top 23%
Biology ranked in the top 24%

In addition to the national rankings, AU was named seventh in the state of Georgia and landed in the top 10 for multiple categories:

No. 5 for Best Professors
No. 6 for Best Academics
No. 6 Most Diverse
No. 10 Best for Student Athletes

Niche calculates its rankings using data from the U.S. Department of Education, such as test scores, graduation rates, tuition and more. It also relies on hundreds of thousands of reviews from students sharing their thoughts on professors, safety and even campus food.

Smith stressed the importance of college rankings, arguing that it can help high school graduates make an informed decision on where they’d like to continue their education.

“When you’re looking at a particular program or type of school, rankings are a way that you can narrow that population down or maybe put a school on your list that you weren’t otherwise thinking of. So, if being No. 7 in the state of Georgia is going to put AU on someone’s list or help them go to our website and just check us out when maybe they wouldn’t otherwise, then that’s fantastic,” Smith said.

She said she hopes that, in addition to checking rankings, prospective students will take advantage of the many campus tours that AU offers, including the See Augusta Preview Day on Oct. 10. Smith is also calling on current students to leave their own reviews of AU and share their unique campus experiences.