Spelman College has been ranked as the top HBCU in the nation in the U.S. News & World Report 2024 Best Colleges list. The all-women school in Atlanta continues its top rating for the 17th year in a row.

In a news release, Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell, Spelman’s president, expressed her excitement about the school’s ranking.

"The recognition that our undergraduate teaching and academic innovation contribute to the social mobility of our graduates is important as we strengthen programs and develop new initiatives that provide students with the competitive advantage they need to be successful in this 21st-century environment," Campbell said in a statement.

In addition to being rated as the number one HBCU, the school also ranked 7th on the list of Most Innovative Schools, 9th on the list of Learning Communities, 21st on the list of Service Learning, 33rd  on the list for Study Abroad, 54th on the list of Best National Liberal Arts institutions

"Student success is a critical measure of college outcomes,” Campbell added. “We appreciate U.S. News & World Report's recognition of Spelman's ability to have a positive and lasting impact on the lives of our students.”

The growth of Spelman’s student body and the innovative programming has made the all-girls school the gold standard for colleges. During the 2021-2022 semesters, Spelman Spelman College took in more than 11,000 applications, a 20 percent increase and it was the largest pool of applicants in the 140-year history of the school.

“The increased interest in Spelman is a testament to the College's reputation of graduating Black women with a competitive edge who rise to leadership roles across industries and impact positive change in their communities," Campbell explained. "Our admissions team has done an excellent job of sharing our stellar outcomes with prospective students from across the nation. We are excited that these bright young minds are seizing the opportunity to experience our unique liberal arts education by applying to Spelman."

Rounding out the top 10 HBCUs are Howard University, Florida A&M University, Tuskegee University, Morehouse College, Xavier University of Louisiana University, Hampton University, North Carolina A&T University, and Claflin University.