Release Date: Friday, August 20, 2004

UGA RANKED AMONG THE TOP 20 NATIONAL PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES; TERRY COLLEGE NAMED A TOP 20 PUBLIC BUSINESS SCHOOL BY U.S. NEWS

ATHENS, Ga. — The University of Georgia is ranked 19th in the nation among public universities in U.S. News and World Report's 2005 "Best Colleges" issue, marking the fifth consecutive year that UGA has ranked as one of the nation's top 20 public universities. Of the 248 public and private universities ranked by the magazine, UGA is rated 58th overall.

UGA shares its position at 19th among public universities with Rutgers and the University of Iowa. Last year the university was ranked 20th, in 2003 and 2002 18th, and 20th in 2001. UGA is one of only four institutions in the Southeast to appear in the top 20.

"I'm gratified by the fact that we continue to be viewed as one of America's top 20 public universities," said UGA President Michael F. Adams. "This year's ranking, more than any other, is a special tribute to the faculty and staff, who have performed in the past year at a very high level despite significant budget challenges."

UGA ranks seventh among public institutions, and 42nd overall, on the "Great Schools at Great Prices" list, which compares academic excellence with cost of attendance. It also ranks 23rd nationally for the least amount of debt load carried by graduates.

UGA's Terry College of Business is ranked 29th in the magazine's "Best Business Programs," continuing the school's rating as a top 30 undergraduate business program and top 20 public business school for the past six years.

"This recognition is largely due to the rising credentials of our students, faculty and alumni," said Dean P. George Benson. "We are proud of our widely acknowledged reputation as one of the best public business schools in the country, and we remain committed to our mission of developing leaders for the world's private enterprise system."

The 2005 rankings are available on-line at www.usnews.com and will be in the August 30 edition of the magazine, which hits newsstands (along with the newsstand book America's Best Colleges) on August 23.

U.S. News considers several factors in producing the annual ranking. Among those are academic reputation, student retention, graduation rates, class sizes, faculty resources, student quality and alumni giving rate.

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