Piedmont College moves up 13 spots in Ranking

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.  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 No. 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. 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.  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. WalletHub, a popular personal finance website, recently ranked the college as the fifth best institution of higher learning in Georgia.