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For the fourth year in a row, Forbes Magazine has named the University of North Georgia (ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½) one of ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ is one of only six public universities in Georgia to be included on the 2019 list, and it is ranked fourth among those.

The ranking is a list of the nation's top 650 public and private universities as measured by superior return on investment; high impact, leadership and success; a first-rate student-consumer experience; and the return students receive on their investment. ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½'s average student debt was lowest among the Georgia schools on the list and seventh-lowest among public universities in the South.

"ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ continues to prepare students for high-demand career fields while remaining one of the most affordable universities in the region," ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ President Bonita Jacobs said. "This recognition further affirms our position as an innovative education leader."

ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ moved up 12 spots to rank 181st among all public universities on the list and bumped up 13 places to rank 113th among both public and private universities in the South.

Now in its 12th year, the Forbes Top Colleges ranking methodology focuses on the direct benefits a college or university provides its students. The Forbes list is the magazine's "annual review of the undergraduate institutions that deliver the top academics, best experiences, career success and lowest debt."

"We include just 15% of the 4,300 degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the U.S., so appearing here at all is an indication that a school meets a high standard," the Forbes team wrote in the Aug. 15 article revealing its list.

ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ expects to welcome approximately 20,000 students across five campuses and online when classes start Aug. 19. ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ is one of the largest public universities in Georgia and has campuses in Blue Ridge, Cumming, Dahlonega, Gainesville, and Oconee County. ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ offers more than 100 programs of study, including certificates, associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and professional doctoral programs.

The complete list of colleges is available at .  In April, ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ was one of only three public universities in Georgia, along with the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech, to be included in its .

Earlier this month, ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ was featured as one of , and is consistently recognized by U.S. News and World Report and Kiplinger's Magazine as one of the nation’s leading public universities for academic excellence and affordability.