Spelman College, a historically Black liberal arts educational institution for women in Atlanta, Georgia, has topped Newsweek’s inaugural “America’s Best Colleges for Women” ranking list.
Drawing from data from the U.S. Department of Education and the Campus Safety and Security Database, each school’s ranking is determined by four main categories: leadership, pay and policies, safety, and opportunity. The rankings also incorporate data from the Center for Reproductive Rights regarding how local and state politics may impact each school’s campus environment.
“Spelman College is thrilled to be ranked as one of Newsweek’s America’s Best Colleges for Women,” the college told Newsweek in a statement. “This is a tremendous honor and a reflection of our commitment to leadership development, student access and opportunity, and campus safety. We are proud of our legacy as a global leader in the education of women of African descent and remain dedicated to fostering an inclusive, modernized living and learning environment for our students.”
Rounding out the top five of Newsweek’s top colleges for women in the U.S. are Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, St. Catherine University in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Herzing University-Madison in Wisconsin, and Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.