UNG moves up in U.S. News rankings

September 18, 2023
UNG ranks high for quality and value in the 2024 U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges lists.

Article By: Clark Leonard

The University of North Georgia (UNG) earned high marks for quality and value in the 2024 U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges rankings released Sept. 18, moving up to tie for 17th overall among public Regional Universities in the South. 

In more specialized lists for public Regional Universities in the South, among Georgia universities, UNG is No. 1 on the list of Best Colleges for Veterans; No. 1 for Least Debt, which measures schools whose students graduated carrying the lightest debt loads; and No. 3 on the Best Value Colleges list. 

"We are proud of UNG's role as a legacy-making institution," UNG President Michael P. Shannon said. "This ranking recognizes the work we do every day to help students change the trajectory of their lives and serve our communities, the state and our nation." 

Further underscoring the return on investment UNG provides students was its inclusion on the Social Mobility list, where it ranked eighth among regional public universities in Georgia. 

In more specialized lists for public Regional Universities in the South, among Georgia universities, UNG is No. 1 on the list of Best Colleges for Veterans; No. 1 for Least Debt, which measures schools whose students graduated carrying the lightest debt loads; and No. 3 on the Best Value Colleges list.

Other highlights for UNG from the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings were: 

  • No. 3 on the Best Undergraduate Business Programs list and No. 4 on the Undergraduate Computer Science Programs ranking in Georgia among Regional Public Universities in the South.
  • Among the top seven Georgia schools, among Regional Public Universities in the South, on the Best Undergraduate Nursing Programs list. UNG's Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates had the highest National Council Licensure Examination pass rate in the Georgia from 2019-2022.
  • Only Georgia public university on the "A+ Schools for B Students" list.

Using a wide range of data sources, U.S. News analysts and editors calculated more than 80 Best Colleges rankings with the intent of enabling students and their families to identify colleges that best meet their needs. The rankings highlight colleges that excel in value, social mobility, teaching, veterans' needs, and six academic disciplines. 

One of the state's largest universities, UNG serves more than 18,000 students across its five campuses in Blue Ridge, Cumming, Dahlonega, Gainesville, and Oconee County, and online. UNG offers more than 100 programs of study, including certificates, associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral programs. 


O'Clery earns PT residency at Duke

O'Clery earns PT residency at Duke

Dr. Lily O'Clery is jumping into her physical therapy career with an acute care residency at Duke University during the 2026-27 academic year.
Federal funds support healthcare education

Federal funds support healthcare education

UNG will receive $700,000 of federal funding to expand clinical training capacity through new patient simulators and clinical education supplies at UNG's Dahlonega and Blue Ridge campuses.
Crow earns Georgia health informatics scholarship

Crow earns Georgia health informatics scholarship

Recent UNG graduate Tara Crow earned the Georgia HIMSS 2026 David Cowan Scholarship to support further education as she pursues a health informatics career.
Students present at regional biology event

Students present at regional biology event

Four students and six faculty members from the Biology Department presented their research at the March 25-28 Association of Southeastern Biologists meeting in Mobile, Alabama.