Forbes released its list of top 500 universities. Here's where UGA, other Georgia colleges land

UGA students celebrate at the UGA Freshman Welcome event held Tuesday in Sanford Stadium.
UGA students celebrate at the UGA Freshman Welcome event held Tuesday in Sanford Stadium.

Forbes' released its annual list of America's top colleges, highlighting 500 institutions based on academic excellence and low student debt.

It's rankings were based on 14 different metrics to evaluate 500 colleges from across the U.S., including alumni salary, debt, graduation rate, return on investment, median 10-year salary and more.

At the top of the list were the usual suspects, including Princeton, Stanford, MIT, Yale and UC-Berkeley as the top five.

Columbia, U of Penn, Harvard, Rice and Cornell rounded out the top 10.

Georgia produced 10 higher education institutions inside the list, including three inside the top 65. Here's where the University of Georgia and others around the state landed.

Emory University

Cannon Chapel on Emory University's campus in Atlanta
Cannon Chapel on Emory University's campus in Atlanta

Leading Georgia on the list is Emory University, a private school in Atlanta ranking No. 33. Here are some more details:

  • Average grant aid: $48,914

  • Average debt: $7,280

  • Median 10-year salary: $138,000

  • Financial grade: A

The Georgia Institute of Technology

At No. 38, the Georgia Institute of Technology closely followed Emory University. It is a public research university in Atlanta and ranked as the ninth best public school in the country. Here are more details:

  • Average grant aid: $13,992

  • Average debt: $7,027

  • Median 10-year salary: $163,500

University of Georgia

Students head up the hill towards the library during the first day of the fall semester at the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga., on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024.
Students head up the hill towards the library during the first day of the fall semester at the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga., on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2024.

Ranking No. 62 on the list, also making a strong showing, is the University of Georgia in Athens. It ranked as the 19th best public school in the country. Here's more:

  • Average grant aid: $11,559

  • Average debt: $6,778

  • Median 10-year salary: $124,800

Mercer University

Coming a long ways after UGA, Mercer University ranks No. 285 on the list. Located in Macon, Mercer is notable for the highest average debt amongst the Georgia schools on the list. Here's more:

  • Average grant aid: $33,740

  • Average debt: $8,484

  • Median 10-year salary: $98,400

  • Financial Grade: C-

Spelman College

Ranking 358th on the list is Spelman College, a private school in Atlanta. Here are more details:

  • Average grant aid: $10,629

  • Average debt: $7,997

  • Median 10-year salary: $98,400

  • Financial Grade: B-

Georgia State University

Ranking 365 is Georgia State University, a public school in Atlanta. This school, also, notably has the lowest student debt average (amongst the Georgia schools on the list). Here's more:

  • Average grant aid: $11,563

  • Average debt: $5,857

  • Median 10-year salary: $108,800

Morehouse College

Ranking 367 is Morehouse College, a private non-profit school in Atlanta. Here's more:

  • Average grant aid: $13,577

  • Average debt: $8,374

  • Median 10-year salary: $124,200

  • Financial Grade: B

Agnes Scott College

Ranking 453 is Agnes Scott College, a private non-profit school in Decatur. Here's more:

  • Average grant aid: $34,267

  • Average debt: $7,909

  • Median 10-year salary: $99,400

  • Financial Grade: B+

Georgia Southern University

Ranking 463, Georgia Southern University, a public school with a campus in Statesboro and a campus in Savannah. Here's more:

  • Average grant aid: $8,806

  • Average debt: $6,469

  • Median 10-year salary: $103,400

Georgia College & State University

At 487 is Georgia College & State University. It is a public school located in Milledgeville. Here's more:

  • Average grant aid: $8,610

  • Average debt: $6,446

  • Median 10-year salary: $93,700

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: UGA and other Georgia schools ranking in Forbes list of best colleges