This month, GCSU was given the honorable nomination of Top 5 Schools in the South by U.S. News and World Report.
The regional south consists of 12 states. GCSU was also ranked #5 Best Undergraduate Teaching and #9 Most Innovative across both public and private institutions in the regional south. Also, having claimed the title of No. 2 Best Value School in the state, GCSU’s education is now more affordable and higher-quality.
These awards represent a long, sustained period of positive change and continuous growth for GCSU and reflect the dedicated work of staff and students alike.
According to GCSU’s Front Page, as of 2025, applications for GCSU are at an all-time high. These rankings are projected to catapult applications even further. With a current undergraduate population of around 6,000, GCSU has a 1:16 student-to-professor ratio, and most classrooms hold 30 students or fewer, providing a unique environment for those enrolled.
Professors hold weekly office hours to further encourage the idea that GCSU students are more than just names on a roster. They demonstrate that each student is an individual who deserves one-on-one, intentional support.
“The Georgia College experience is rooted in the liberal arts and provides the foundation for a lifetime of learning, growth, and academic excellence,” according to an article on GCSU’s website.
GCSU Professors are dedicated to student success in all aspects, as they uphold the school’s liberal arts mission.
“It isn’t just about getting an education for a job, but an education for life,” said Dr. Cynthia Alby, a professor of education.
Dr. Alby has been teaching at GCSU for over 25 years, and to her, the school’s liberal arts mission provides “breadth and depth” to students, allowing them to focus on their chosen subject while remaining broadly educated.
Dr. Alby attended a private liberal arts school for her undergrad and deeply valued the goals of a liberal arts education. When looking at GCSU, several key aspects stood out to her.
“It was very exciting to come to a place that did all the things I wanted, but was public, and available to all people regardless of their income.”
Having ranked #5 Best Undergraduate Teaching, Dr. Alby detailed what makes GCSU undergraduate professors special. Dr. Alby believes that teaching students to think, instead of telling them what to think, is the most effective teaching method. She upholds this by making an effort to only speak for 10% or less of class time, with the rest of the time being set aside for hands-on or collaborative student work.
For many years, Dr. Alby offered a semester-long class for GCSU professors, meeting once a week for two hours. The course taught professors about how to be better educators. The course was unpaid, with participants getting no extra recognition, title or certificate for participating. Despite this, over one-third of GCSU faculty chose to participate. Giving up hours of their time for the simple possibility of improving the learning experience for students, the course was a stunning testament to the unique dedication of GCSU educators.
“We really earned this,” Dr. Alby said. “When I first arrived 25 years ago, we weren’t this. We’ve become this by working really hard at it. I hope that we are able to get more and more recognition for it.”
Beyond the classroom, GCSU’s education is unique because of its plethora of student resources. At GCSU, students have assets readily available that provide a supportive environment.
According to Forbes Magazine, citing 2022-2023 data, “More than 600 students are involved in leadership programs at the university, which provides workshops, retreats and scholarship opportunities. The college has over 150 student organizations, including Greek life, and more than 2,000 students belong to one of 29 chapters.”
There is far more to a college education than simply how students perform in their classes. Each GCSU student also has their own career goals and post-grad aspirations. Life beyond undergrad can be overwhelming and intimidating; however, GCSU prioritizes helping students tackle these fears through several key factors.
GCSU frequently hosts both part-time and full-time career fairs where motivated students can hear from and talk to companies from all fields. The GCSU Career Center, located in Lanier Hall, helps students to write resumes and cover letters, runs mock interviews and aids students in internship or career searches.