UGA and other Georgia schools are listed on Forbes' list of best colleges

Forbes has released its annual list of the best American universities, highlighting 500 institutions that demonstrate academic excellence and low student debt.

The rankings were based on 14 different criteria to evaluate 500 colleges across the U.S., including graduate salaries, debt, graduation rate, return on investment, median 10-year salary and more.

Topping the list were the usual suspects, including Princeton, Stanford, MIT, Yale and UC-Berkeley as the top five.

Columbia, U of Penn, Harvard, Rice and Cornell completed the top 10.

Ten universities from Georgia are represented on the list, with three of them among the top 65. Here is the ranking of the University of Georgia and other universities from the state.

Emory University

Topping the list in Georgia is Emory University, a private school in Atlanta, which ranks 33rd. Here are some more details:

Average grant: $48,914
Average debt: $7,280
Average 10-year salary: $138,000
Financial grade: A

The Georgia Institute of Technology

Following closely behind Emory University at number 38 was Georgia Institute of Technology. It is a public research university in Atlanta and is considered the ninth best public school in the country. Here are more details:

Average grant: $13,992
Average debt: $7,027
Average 10-year salary: $163,500

University of Georgia

At number 62 on the list is the University of Georgia at Athens, which also puts in a strong performance, ranking as the 19th best public school in the country. Learn more here:

Average grant: $11,559
Average debt: $6,778
Average 10-year salary: $124,800

Mercer University

Far behind UGA is Mercer University, ranked 285th on the list. Located in Macon, Mercer University has the highest average debt among Georgia schools on the list. Learn more here:

Average grant: $33,740
Average debt: $8,484
Average 10-year salary: $98,400
Financial grade: C-

Spelman College

At number 358 on the list is Spelman College, a private school in Atlanta. Here are more details:

Average grant: $10,629
Average debt: $7,997
Average 10-year salary: $98,400
Financial grade: B-

Georgia State University

At number 365 is Georgia State University, a public school in Atlanta. This school also has the lowest average student debt (among the Georgia schools on the list). Learn more here:

Average grant: $11,563
Average debt: $5,857
Average 10-year salary: $108,800

Morehouse College

Ranked 367th is Morehouse College, a private nonprofit school in Atlanta. Learn more here:

Average grant: $13,577
Average debt: $8,374
Average 10-year salary: $124,200
Financial grade: B

Agnes Scott College

Agnes Scott College, a private nonprofit school in Decatur, is ranked 453rd. Learn more here:

Average grant: $34,267
Average debt: $7,909
Average 10-year salary: $99,400
Financial grade: B+

Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern University, a public university with a campus in Statesboro and a campus in Savannah, is ranked 463rd. Find out more here:

Average grant: $8,806
Average debt: $6,469
Average 10-year salary: $103,400

Georgia College and State University

Georgia College & State University is located at 487. It is a public school in Milledgeville. Learn more here:

Average grant: $8,610
Average debt: $6,446
Average 10-year salary: $93,700