Middle Georgia State University (MGA) is among the best public regional institutions in the South, according to the latest rankings released by U.S. News & World Report.

MGA tied for 14^th on the list of institutions included in the “Top Public Schools - Regional Colleges South” category for the publication’s 2021 higher education rankings. In addition, MGA moved up five places from last year to tie for 50^th among those ranked in the “Regional Colleges – South” category, which includes both public and private institutions. In another important category, MGA moved up eight places to rank 53^rd among the South’s regional institutions showing the most success in advancing the social mobility of students.

The social mobility ranking refers to how well institutions do in advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of students awarded Pell Grants, which are based on family income. MGA is one of Georgia's most affordable regional universities.

"Part of our mission is to open the door to quality higher education for prospective students who come from financially disadvantaged families," said Dr. Christopher Blake, MGA president. "That part of our mission fits in well with Middle Georgia State’s overall commitment to work consistently to better serve all of our students and the communities in our primary service region. We value the recognition Middle Georgia State, as a regional university, is receiving as a result of our work.”

Each year, U.S. News & World Report gathers and analyzes data to rank national universities, national liberal arts colleges, regional universities, and regional colleges based on more than 15 measures of academic quality.

What is now Middle Georgia State University was created through the consolidation of Macon State College and Middle Georgia College in 2013. Two years ago, for the first time since the consolidation, U.S. News & World Report included MGA in the “Top Public Schools - Regional Colleges South” rankings.  

To see U.S. News & World Report's 2021 “Best Colleges” rankings, go to https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges.  More about the methodology the publication uses is at https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/rankings-methodologies.