
Agnes Scott College
U.S. News Liberal Arts 2027
#62
Up 5 from 2026
Acceptance rate
62.2%
2025
Peer median 54.3%
Tuition per year
$50,604
$64,209 with room and board
Peer median $58,090
Undergraduates
843
Student-faculty ratio 10:1
Peer median 10 : 1
Graduation rate
69.5%
4-year; 6-year rate 76.8%
Peer median 75.2%
“Peers” are the 30 closest-ranked private liberal arts colleges, the same comparison used in this page's data notes.
About
Agnes Scott College is an independent, non-profit, four-year liberal arts institution situated in Decatur, Georgia, a community located just east of Atlanta. Founded with ties to the Presbyterian Church (USA), the institution maintains a women's undergraduate college alongside a coeducational graduate division. The college emphasizes foundational liberal arts education, undergraduate inquiry, and professional preparation. In the 2027 U.S. News Best National Liberal Arts Colleges ranking, Agnes Scott placed 62nd nationwide. With its suburban campus setting adjacent to a major metropolitan center, the college provides students with an intimate learning environment while offering direct access to the cultural, governmental, and healthcare networks of the Atlanta region.
Agnes Scott College provides a small liberal arts setting with published tuition that sits below most of its competitors, accompanied by moderate degree completion outcomes. For 2025, undergraduate tuition was $50,604, which is higher than 13% of peer schools among 30 similarly ranked private liberal arts colleges. The college maintains small class settings, with educational spending focused primarily on direct instruction. Completion figures show steady long-term attainment, though a meaningful gap separates on-time graduation from extended timelines. In 2025, the four-year graduation rate was 69.5%, while the six-year graduation rate reached 76.8%. The college's first-year retention rate also remains lower than most peer benchmarks. For families weighing tuition against educational value, Agnes Scott presents a lower list price than many comparable private institutions, though prospective students should consider the commitment required to finish a degree on time.
This collegeRanked colleges nearby
- Setting
- Suburb of a large city
- Nearest major city
- Atlanta, about 7 mi
- Nearest international airport
- Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), about 10 mi
- Academic calendar
- Semester
- Religious affiliation
- Presbyterian Church (USA)
- President
- Leocadia I. Zak (President)
- Phone
- 4044716000
- Address
- 141 E. College Ave., Decatur, GA 30030-3770
Rankings & Admission
Peer median 54.3% · the 30 closest-ranked private liberal arts colleges
Best #51, lowest #67, latest #62 over the last ten years.
Data insights
Agnes Scott College presents a moderately accessible admissions landscape within the national liberal arts sector. In the 2027 U.S. News Best National Liberal Arts Colleges ranking, the institution placed 62nd, recovering slightly after touching 67th in 2026. For the entering undergraduate class of 2025, the female acceptance rate stood at 62.2%. In a comparison against 30 similarly ranked private liberal arts colleges, this admission rate is higher than 69% of peer schools. However, drawing admitted applicants to campus remains challenging; the college recorded a yield rate of 16.2% in 2025, reflecting that only about one in six admitted students elected to matriculate. For prospective applicants, these figures show that while an offer of admission is comparatively attainable, the college must compete vigorously to persuade accepted students to enroll.
Test Scores
2025 admitted students, 25th–75th percentile · 27% submitted SAT, 17% submitted ACT · SAT/ACT optional: considered if submitted
Data insights
Agnes Scott College's admission test policy is optional, with scores considered if submitted. In 2025, roughly a quarter of enrolled students submitted SAT scores, while a smaller percentage submitted ACT scores. For score ranges in 2025, enrolled students recorded a middle ACT composite range of 25 to 31. The school's median SAT score was 1240, which was higher than 11% of peer schools in a comparison group of private liberal arts colleges with similar rankings. High school grades serve as a critical metric for applicants: during the 2023-2024 academic year, roughly a third of entering students held a perfect grade point average, and more than three-quarters had marks at the higher end of the scale. These outcomes show that competitive candidates generally present sustained classroom achievement in high school, while standardized test results function as a supplemental credential rather than a baseline requirement.
How Hard Is It to Get In
about 6 in 10
2,090 applicants in 2025, 62.2% admitted
1,299 admitted 791 not admitted Yield 16.2%
Degrees & Majors
Graduates in 2025 (first major)
U.S. studentsInternational
Popular graduate programs
- Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies · Master's34 (6% international)
- Mental Health Counseling/Counselor · Master's20 (0% international)
- Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia · Master's9 (0% international)
- Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods · Master's4 (0% international)
- Organizational Leadership · Master's2 (0% international)
Data insights
Conferrals at Agnes Scott College are balanced across the social sciences, life sciences, and traditional liberal arts. In 2025, the college conferred 215 bachelor's degrees, with the top three fields representing 31.6% of all undergraduate completions. The largest undergraduate program was research and experimental psychology with 33 graduates, followed by biology, general business administration, and creative writing. At the graduate level, the college conferred 69 master's degrees, led by pre-medicine and pre-medical studies and mental health counseling. Early career compensation varies moderately across academic departments: according to 2023 figures, business administration graduates posted median earnings of $39,309 one year after graduation, while psychology graduates reported $32,067. These patterns demonstrate steady engagement in health and social science tracks without heavy concentration in a single discipline.
All majors, graduates and earnings IPEDS · College Scorecard
*Depends on whether majors have graduates in 2025 or not, Yes / No
**Move mouse on can check deitaled graudates number, click for major detailed information
***Due to privacy policy, graduate salaries are not shown for some majors that has few gradautes
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies. | - | ||
| Mental Health Counseling/Counselor. | - | ||
| Public Health, General. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods. | - | ||
| Economics, General. | - | ||
| International Relations and Affairs. | - | ||
| Political Science and Government, General. | - | ||
| Social Sciences, Other. | $27,723 |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Other. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General. | - | ||
| Biochemistry. | - | ||
| Neuroscience. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General. | - | ||
| Creative Writing. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General. | $39,309 | ||
| Organizational Leadership. | $39,309 |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astrophysics. | - | ||
| Chemistry, General. | - | ||
| Physics, General. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| History, General. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia. | $45,819 |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dance, General. | - | ||
| Fine/Studio Arts, General. | - | ||
| Art History, Criticism and Conservation. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics, General. | - | ||
| Mathematics, Other. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philosophy. | - | ||
| Religion/Religious Studies. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| African Studies. | - | ||
| Women's Studies. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| French Language and Literature. | - | ||
| Spanish Language and Literature. | - | ||
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General. | - |
Students
1,079 students in 2025 · Undergraduate men to women 0:100 · Freshman retention 81.3%
- Continuing undergraduates 616
- First-year undergraduates 210
- Graduate students 236
- Transfers and others 17
Undergraduate race and ethnicity (843)
Age distribution
Bachelor's
Graduate students
Data insights
Agnes Scott College enrolls an intimate, entirely female undergraduate community alongside a small graduate division. The student body is characterized by substantial domestic diversity, with Black and White students comprising the largest groups on campus. In contrast, Asian and international students represent relatively small segments of the campus community. In 2025, the entering undergraduate cohort included 5 Asian students, making up 2.4% of the class, while international students numbered 2, representing 1%. Continuing undergraduate classes and graduate programs show similar patterns, with Asian and international scholars comprising single-digit percentages in each division. The graduate student body also reflects a heavily domestic profile, where women continue to represent the overwhelming majority. For families evaluating the campus environment, the student body offers an empowering small-college setting, though applicants seeking large international or Asian peer groups should recognize that these populations remain comparatively modest.
The age structure at Agnes Scott College shows a distinct divide between undergraduate and graduate divisions. In 2025, the undergraduate body of 841 students was concentrated heavily in traditional collegiate age bands. Students aged 20 to 21 made up 47.2% of all undergraduates, while those aged 18 to 19 accounted for 38.6%. This compact clustering means the undergraduate campus environment revolves largely around early-adulthood students navigating their college years together. Conversely, the 235 graduate students are older, with the majority falling between ages 22 and 29 as they pursue post-baccalaureate training.
International Students
International share over the last 10 years · gray line: median of the 30 closest-ranked private liberal arts colleges
23 in 2025 · 8.9% in 2016
2 in 2025 · 0.0% in 2019
Data insights
International enrollment at Agnes Scott College is very small and has contracted significantly at the undergraduate level over the past decade. In 2025, international students made up 2.7% of the undergraduate student body, placing the college higher than 13% of peer schools among 30 similarly ranked private liberal arts colleges. At the graduate level, international enrollment has remained minimal, representing 0.8% of graduate students in 2025. This small footprint is directly visible in graduating classes. International graduates earned only a modest share of credentials at both levels in 2025. At the undergraduate level, international degree recipients were concentrated in Research and Experimental Psychology, Other. In master's programs, international students were concentrated in Pre-Medicine/Pre-Medical Studies, where they accounted for 5.9% of degree recipients. Prospective international applicants should understand that they will be joining a very small global cohort spread across just a few academic disciplines.
Cost
2025 cost per year
$64,209
- Undergraduate tuition
- $50,604
- Room and board
- $13,605
- Graduate tuition
- $19,550
Peer median tuition + room and board $72,808 · the 30 closest-ranked private liberal arts colleges
Tuition rose 36% from 2016 to 2025; room and board rose 22%.
Finances · fiscal year 2024
Revenue$64.6M
Expenses$63.9M
Average faculty salary · 2025 (9-month equivalent)
Dark gray ticks: median pay for the same rank at the 30 closest-ranked private liberal arts colleges
Campus Life
Athletics and varsity athletes NCAA
No athlete data available for 2025.
No athlete data available for 2024.
No athlete data available for 2023.
Nearby & Safety
Ranked colleges nearby
-
Emory UniversityAtlanta · 2.3 mi
U.S. News #23
-
Georgia State UniversityAtlanta · 5.4 mi
U.S. News #191
-
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusAtlanta · 5.7 mi
U.S. News #29
-
Spelman CollegeAtlanta · 6.9 mi
Liberal Arts #34
-
University of GeorgiaAthens · 54.4 mi
U.S. News #52
-
Mercer UniversityMacon · 74.9 mi
U.S. News #148
-
Clemson UniversityClemson · 104.5 mi
U.S. News #80
-
Auburn UniversityAuburn · 106.3 mi
U.S. News #100
-
Furman UniversityGreenville · 132.6 mi
Liberal Arts #57
Data insights
Families exploring Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia, will find several prominent institutions nearby across the greater Atlanta area. Located just 2.3 kilometers away is Emory University, a leading private national university ranked 23rd in the 2027 rankings. A short distance farther into downtown Atlanta, Georgia State University sits 5.4 kilometers away and holds a rank of 191 among national universities. Nearby in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus is located 5.7 kilometers from campus, holding a national university ranking of 29th. For applicants specifically seeking another historically women's liberal arts institution in the region, Spelman College is located 6.9 kilometers away and ranks 34th among national liberal arts colleges. These neighboring schools offer families a diverse mix of major research institutions and dedicated liberal arts colleges within immediate driving distance.
Peer median 14.0 · the 30 closest-ranked private liberal arts colleges
Incidents, 2023–2025
From the Clery Act campus safety reports schools file, covering on-campus, non-campus and public property.
Data insights
Campus safety at Agnes Scott College reflects moderate activity that has shown improvement over the past decade. The crime rate per 1,000 students fell to 8.9 in 2025, down from 14.2 in 2016. Across the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, incident reports were dominated by disciplinary referrals alongside isolated property and interpersonal offenses. Drug disciplinary referrals formed the largest single category, totaling 6 incidents over those three years. Alcohol disciplinary referrals, rape, motor vehicle theft, dating violence, and burglary each recorded 4 incidents during the same span. Overall volumes remain relatively low on campus, with no category exceeding single digits across the multi-year tracking period. For families evaluating campus security, these figures suggest that serious safety incidents occur infrequently on campus, though prospective students should maintain standard personal safety awareness in an urban-adjacent environment.
Notable Alumni
Notable alumni of Agnes Scott College include Joanna Moore (Film and television actress), Jennifer Nettles (Singer, lead vocalist of Sugarland) and Katherine Harris (Former Florida Secretary of State and U.S. Representative).
-
Joanna Moore 1934–1997
Film and television actress
-
Jennifer Nettles 1974–
Singer, lead vocalist of Sugarland
-
Katherine Harris 1957–
Former Florida Secretary of State and U.S. Representative
-
Marsha Norman 1947–
Playwright, 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama winner
-
Wasfia Nazreen 1982–
Bangladeshi mountaineer and activist; first Bangladeshi on K2
-
Loretta Ross 1953–
Academic, feminist and reproductive justice activist
-
Leila Ross Wilburn 1885–1967
Architect, one of Georgia's first women architects
-
Betty Reynolds Cobb 1884–1956
One of Georgia's first female lawyers
-
Anita Barbee
Psychologist and professor at University of Louisville
More alumni (14, by field)
Politics and law
-
Kathy Ashe 1946–
Former Georgia state representative
-
Rosalind McGee 1937–2015
Community activist and legislator
-
Jean H. Toal 1943–
Former chief justice of South Carolina Supreme Court
-
Catherine Fleming Bruce 1961–
South Carolina author, preservationist and activist
Science and academia
-
Ivylyn Girardeau 1900–1987
Physician and missionary in India and Pakistan
-
Anna Irwin Young 1873–1920
Mathematics professor, charter member of the MAA
-
Frances Anderson 1941–
Art therapist and Fulbright Senior Scholar
-
Susan M. Phillips 1944–
Economist; former Federal Reserve governor
Arts and media
-
Michelle Malone
Singer-songwriter and guitarist
-
Sophie Gimbel 1898–1981
Fashion designer for Saks Fifth Avenue
-
Jordan Casteel 1989–
Figurative painter
-
Kimberly Belle 1968–
Bestselling thriller novelist
-
Chesya Burke
Author and editor of horror and dark fantasy
-
Nan Bagby Stephens 1883–1946
Playwright, composer and librettist
From Wikidata “educated at” records (including people who attended without graduating), ordered by the number of Wikipedia language editions. Degrees and years follow Wikidata and are left out where it has none.
References and Data Sources
- Agnes Scott College Official Website
- USNews Best National Liberal Arts Colleges Ranking
- USNews Bset Global Universities Ranking
- THE World University Ranking
- QS World University Ranking
- ARWU World University Ranking
- US Department of Education College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- Forward Pathway US College Ranking Database
Data from IPEDS (U.S. Department of Education), U.S. News, THE, QS, ARWU and Clery Act campus safety reports. Data insights are written by the Forward Pathway data team from public data.