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20 Years at the Top: Spelman College Continues Historic Reign as Nation’s No. 1 HBCU

Staff Report From Georgia CEO

Friday, October 2nd, 2026

Spelman College has been ranked No. 1 among the 2027 Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for the 20th consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report. The milestone extends Spelman’s historic record of being named the nation’s No. 1 HBCU every year since the HBCU rankings began. This year, Spelman also ranked No. 2 on the list of Top Performers in Social Mobility and remains among the top 40 Best National Liberal Arts institutions, moving up three spaces to No. 34.     
 
“Celebrating 20 consecutive years as the nation’s No. 1 HBCU is both a tremendous honor and a meaningful reflection of Spelman College’s enduring excellence and distinction. Behind that metric are the remarkable students, faculty, staff and alumnae who have made this achievement possible,” said Spelman President Dr. Ayanna Howard. “As we look toward the next 20 years, we will continue to raise the bar together, dream boldly and ensure that Spelman women are prepared to thrive, lead, and change the world.”  
  
Spelman College at a Glance – 2027 Best Colleges Rankings:  
  • No. 1 in Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities   
  • No. 2 in Top Performers on Social Mobility   
  • No. 13 in Learning Communities   
  • No. 31 in Top Private Colleges – National Liberal Arts Colleges (tied)  
  • No. 34 in National Liberal Arts Colleges (tied)  
  • No. 22 in Writing in the Disciplines (tied)  
The 2027 edition of the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings evaluates more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities, using up to 17 factors to measure academic quality and graduate success. U.S. News publishes the Best Colleges rankings each year to provide prospective students and their families with the comparative merits of the undergraduate programs at America’s colleges and universities. The rankings offer detailed information of the institutions and data on factors such as outcome measures —including graduation rates, graduate indebtedness and post graduate earnings.   
 
“Higher education is an investment in a student’s future, and we’re proud to recognize the institutions that continue to raise the bar for academic excellence," said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., managing editor for education at U.S. News. “The Best Colleges rankings celebrate schools that demonstrate outstanding commitment to student success, providing prospective families with a roadmap to discover high-performing institutions that align with their specific academic, career and personal goals.”  
 
Prospective students can see how Spelman compares to other institutions and how the rankings are calculated on USNews.com.