U.S. News names NGCSU to top colleges list in South

DAHLONEGA - U.S. News & World Report has placed North Georgia College & State
University (NGCSU) on a list of the top Public Universities in the South.

NGCSU is No. 13 among Public Universities in the South that provide a full range of undergraduate and master's programs but offer few, if any, doctoral programs.

The ranking is included in the magazine's "Premium Online Edition" of America's Best Colleges 2005.

The only other Georgia institutions in that listing are Georgia College & State University, No. 18, and Georgia Southern, No. 21.

In the newsstand publication's listing of combined top public and private universities in the South offering bachelor's and master's degrees, NGCSU is ranked No. 43 of listed southern institutions. Other public Georgia schools in this category include No. 52 Georgia College & State University, and No. 58 Georgia Southern.

"North Georgia ranks higher than any other school in the University System of Georgia except the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech," said Linda Roberts-Betsch, NGCSU interim vice president for Academic Affairs. "We have maintained this status for the past several years."

On the "National Universities" listing of those institutions offering undergraduate,
master's and doctoral degrees, Georgia Tech is listed at No. 41 and UGA is No. 58.

Harvard and Princeton, both private institutions, are tied at the top of the "Best
National Universities" listing, while the University of Richmond, also private, is
at the top of the South's "Best Universities * Master's."

The "Top Public Universities * Master's (South)" listing online has James Madison
University in Virginia in first place.

Recently, Consumers Digest named NGCSU) the 5th Best Value in Public Higher Education in the nation.