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On Monday, the U.S. News & World Report released its annual list of Best Regional Colleges in the South, and LaGrange College was ranked in the Top 10 at number 8.

To develop the 2023 rankings, U.S. News evaluated 1,500 U.S. bachelor’s degree-granting institutions on 17 measures of academic quality.

LaGrange College was also included on the publication’s lists of “Best Value Schools” and colleges with “Best Undergraduate Teaching.”

“It is always nice to have external validation for what we know here at LaGrange College. We are a top-ranked institution that transforms the lives of our students,” said President Susanna Baxter. “Their experiences on the Hill serve as a time to gain the skills and experience needed to live into their calling. Whether that be accountancy, education, nursing or on the main stage, our students leave here equipped for the next step.”

Point University was ranked 68th out of 99 Regional Colleges in the South.

Rusty Hassell, Chief Enrollment Officer of Point University, said the college was a top performer in social mobility.

“I definitely am proud of that title and that is reflected with us as we serve a population where over half of our undergrad students receive Pell Grant from the federal government,” he said. “I think that speaks highly of us to the population that we serve.”

He said the college was glad to have recognition in the report. Factors considered in the top schools ranking include outcomes (graduation and retention rates and social mobility), faculty resources (class size and faculty salary), expert opinion of peer institution leaders, financial resources, student excellence (standardized test scores and high school class standing) and alumni giving.

“All the ranking factors relate to academics,” said Eric Brooks, U.S. News principal data analyst. “Areas of strength for LaGrange College include having small classes and a small student-to-faculty ratio. A large proportion of its faculty also had the highest degrees in their fields.”

The publication determines its “Best Value” schools by factoring academic quality and cost after accounting for total expenses and financial aid.

“The ‘Best Value’ and ‘Best Undergraduate Teaching’ rankings affirm what our families already know: LaGrange students receive an outstanding education at one of the most affordable private colleges in the Southeast,” said Dr. John Head, vice president for enrollment management and student experience. “We often hear from families with multiple children that their LaGrange experience has been more affordable than that of their student attending one of the state’s public institutions.”