GSW ranked third best rural college in nation

AMERICUS, Ga. (Sept. 3, 2026) — Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW) was named the third best college for rural America in a national ranking by Washington Monthly, recognizing GSW for its affordability, social mobility and impact on Georgia’s workforce.

The ranking began with more than 1,000 rural colleges across the country, focusing on four-year nonprofit colleges and universities that provide students with strong educational and economic opportunities while serving the needs of their states and communities.

The methodology highlights areas central to GSW’s mission: providing an affordable, accessible and high-quality education while preparing graduates to strengthen Southwest Georgia and communities across the state.

Rankings were based on social mobility, percentage of students from in-state, percentage of graduates who remain in the state and the number of degrees awarded in high-demand fields in short supply in rural areas, such as teaching and nursing.

“This national recognition reinforces what we have long known at Georgia Southwestern: rural universities can have an extraordinary impact on the students and communities they serve,” said GSW President Kerry J. Palmer, Ph.D. “With half of our students being the first in their families to attend college, the education they receive at GSW has the power to change not only their lives, but the trajectory of their families for generations to come. We are proud to provide an affordable, high-quality education that prepares students for successful careers while developing the talent needed to strengthen communities across Georgia. To be ranked No. 3 in the nation is an incredible honor and a testament to the work of our faculty, staff, students, alumni and community partners.”

Affordability is an important part of that impact. By keeping the cost of earning a degree within reach, GSW helps reduce financial barriers to higher education with its low-cost tuition and generous scholarship program, which creates greater opportunity for students to graduate and build successful careers. This contributes to social mobility, a graduate’s ability to improve their economic circumstances through education and increased earning potential. GSW’s success in this area has also been recognized by U.S. News & World Report, which ranked among Top Performers on Social Mobility in its 2026 Best Colleges rankings.

According to Washington Monthly, the highest-ranked rural colleges recruit and graduate significant numbers of in-state students from modest-income backgrounds and prepare them to earn salaries that outperform expectations based on their demographics. GSW’s strong graduate outcomes reflect that mission, with the University ranking No. 3 in median earnings one year after graduation among University System of Georgia institutions for graduates employed in the state.

Approximately 80% of GSW graduates remain in Georgia, joining the workforce and contributing to the state’s economy. GSW graduates also earn more four years after graduation than predicted based on student demographics, another key factor contributing to the University’s high ranking.

Ranking third from an initial pool of more than 1,000 rural colleges nationwide is indicative of GSW’s impact being felt far beyond the region the University is proud to call home.

In addition to being ranked in the top three best colleges for rural America, Washington Monthly recently listed GSW among its 2026 Best Colleges for Your Tuition (and Tax) Dollars.