Aiken's University Ranked a Top Public School

Aiken, SC (09/14/2020) — U.S. News and World Report's Best Colleges Guide once again ranked the University of South Carolina Aiken as the top Regional College in the South for 2021.

This marks the 23rd time USC Aiken has been ranked in the top three and the 15th time in the number one slot.

"U.S. News and World Report's annual guide is the go-to resource for many prospective students and their families," said Dr. Sandra Jordan, chancellor.

"We are glad to know that the dedication of our faculty and the commitment of every member of the campus community to our institutional mission of ensuring student success is recognized."

In addition to being the top public school in the regional South category, UofSC Aiken earned rankings in six other categories. The institution ranked third in Regional Colleges South for Best Colleges for Veterans. UofSC Aiken garnered rankings in other categories as well: Best Value Schools, Economic Diversity, Top Performers on Social Mobility, Undergraduate Engineering Programs, and Undergraduate Business Programs.

"I am thrilled that USC Aiken has been honored with these additional distinctions. We are committed to providing an engaging, dynamic and quality educational experience for our students, which will serve them well long after graduation," Jordan said.

One aspect of the annual evaluation is a peer review of the institution.

"External validation of the work undertaken by both the U.S. News and World Report and our peer institutions in the south is encouraging to everyone who puts their heart and hard work into our university," Jordan said.

Jordan explains that a positive impression of UofSC Aiken by other university leaders elevates the reputation of the university, which in turn means that the degrees earned by students graduating from UofSC Aiken are seen as having greater value.

"This recognition translates into the potential of greater opportunity for our students."