Agnes Scott College, a nationally acclaimed liberal arts college located in Decatur, Georgia, today announced that it has been ranked in the top 5% of colleges for women in the nation in Newsweek's America's Best Colleges for Women 2026.
“At Agnes Scott, we believe the world is better when more women are at the table, in the lab, in the boardroom and in public life,” said Leocadia I. Zak, president of Agnes Scott College. “This recognition reflects our commitment to making that a reality for every student who walks through our doors.”
Every element of the Agnes Scott experience is designed with one goal in mind: sending women into the world ready to lead. At the heart of that preparation is the nationally recognized Summit curriculum, designed to ensure every undergraduate graduates as a critical thinker, a clear communicator and an ethical leader with a global perspective. The result is graduates who are ready to contribute from day one, in whatever field or community they choose.
This recognition from Newsweek underscores what defines Agnes Scott: a college grounded in the enduring promise of women’s education. That mission lives in every dimension of an Agnes Scott education — in the academic rigor that sharpens the mind, the global learning that expands perspective, and the intentional focus on leadership and career preparation that helps students step confidently into the world.
America’s Best Colleges for Women is a ranking developed by Newsweek in partnership with Gender Fair to highlight institutions that support gender equality and empower women. The methodology is rooted in the Women’s Empowerment Principles and evaluates colleges across four key areas: leadership, pay and policies, safety, and opportunity.
The ranking identifies colleges that have established the structural elements necessary to foster education and employment for women by drawing on data from the U.S. Department of Education — including the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the Campus Safety and Security Database — as well as additional desk research. Only institutions meeting specific criteria for size and academic roles are included, ensuring the results reflect meaningful progress toward gender equity in higher education.
“Choosing a college is a defining moment for many young women, and it’s about more than academics alone,” said Jennifer H. Cunningham, Editor-in-Chief of Newsweek. “America’s Best Colleges for Women highlights institutions that are making measurable progress in leadership, equity, safety, and opportunity, helping students identify environments where women are supported and positioned to succeed.”
About Agnes Scott College
Agnes Scott is a nationally acclaimed liberal arts college located in Decatur, Georgia — minutes from Atlanta’s dynamic tech and corporate hubs, influential civic organizations and world-class cultural institutions. Driven by a mission to educate women to think deeply, live honorably and engage the intellectual and social challenges of their times, Agnes Scott offers students a rigorous academic foundation with an innovative, globally focused Summit undergraduate curriculum and high-demand graduate studies programs proven to prepare students for professional success. Recognized as a national leader in innovation and academic excellence, Agnes Scott has been ranked the No. 1 Most Innovative liberal arts college in the country for an unprecedented eight years in a row by U.S. News & World Report. This year, the college ranked No. 2 for First-Year Experiences, No. 4 for Social Mobility and is in the top 10 for Undergraduate Teaching. With a strong commitment to access, equity and intellectual curiosity, Agnes Scott prepares graduates to excel in high-demand fields and to lead lives of purpose. To learn more about Agnes Scott College, please visit www.agnesscott.edu.
Media Contact
Jaime Hunt
Interim AVP of Marketing and Communications, Agnes Scott College
jhunt@agnesscott.edu
