Record-breaking Rankings by U.S. News & World Report — Agnes Scott #1 Eight Years in a Row!
Agnes Scott was recognized as #1 Most Innovative in the country for an unprecedented eighth consecutive year and #2 for First-year Experiences all while ranking in the Top 20 for Best Value.
DECATUR, GA — Agnes Scott College has once again been recognized as a national leader in innovation and first-year experiences by U.S. News & World Report in its 2026 Best Colleges rankings. The college ranked #1 Most Innovative liberal arts college in the country and No. 2 for First-Year Experiences among all colleges and universities in the country, underscoring the impact of its curriculum and engagement with students. From the start, students build strong connections with faculty, a vast alumnae network and each other. Immersive programs linking coursework with real-world partners across Atlanta and around the world strengthen students’ pathways from classroom to career.
“We are excited by these record-breaking rankings that celebrate the outstanding liberal arts experience we offer our students,” said President Leocadia I. Zak. “From exemplary interdisciplinary curricular experiences to first-year global travel for every student to professional development externship and internship opportunities throughout their four years, we lay a solid foundation for students to succeed while in college and, even more importantly, after graduation. We are preparing students for their first job as well as jobs that we cannot imagine today. Eight years at No. 1 confirms that innovation is part of our DNA and essential to the success and preparedness of our students. It is also what we share with our community through offerings like our annual Women’s Global Leadership Conference.”
The college also placed #4 for Social Mobility and #8 for Undergraduate Teaching among national liberal arts colleges and #6 for Study Abroad and #14 for Co-ops/Internships among all colleges and universities in the country.
Agnes Scott’s continued recognition in these categories reinforces the college’s position as the model for today’s liberal arts education.
About Agnes Scott College
Located in Decatur, Georgia, Agnes Scott College was founded in 1889 and is a highly selective women’s liberal arts college with approximately 1,000 students in its undergraduate and coeducational graduate programs. Named “Most Innovative” eight years in a row by U.S. News & World Report, Agnes Scott is nationally recognized for SUMMIT, its dynamic experiential learning curriculum, and graduate programs that prepare students to lead inclusively in medicine, health sciences and strategic communication. To learn more about Agnes Scott College, please visit agnesscott.edu.
