UGA ranks among best campuses in America

When researching the best colleges in the nation, prospective students aren’t just considering the education. They’re also factoring in housing, food and recreational activities. And one Georgia university outclasses the competition, because it’s been named one of the best campuses in America.

Niche named University of Georgia in Athens its No. 7 pick for the best campus in America. Washington University in St. Louis and Virginia Tech took first and second place, respectively.

To determine the results, Niche, an education research site, analyzed nearly 1,500 four-year colleges and universities using several metrics across five major categories, including campus quality, food, housing, location and safety. The statistics were pulled from the U.S. Department of Education and student reviews submitted to the site.

The school topped the list thanks to its high retention rate of 94 percent. It also had a lower average meal plan cost of $3,956, and students gave campus housing a 3.7 out of 5. Overall, the institution earned an A+ for it’s campus grade.

Niche also recognized UGA as the No. 2 party school in America and the No. 3 college with the best student life in America.

But it wasn’t the only Georgia school to earn a spot on the list. Georgia Southern University and Emory University both fell to the bottom of the pack at No. 50 and No. 105, respectively.