For the second year in a row, Georgia Southern University has been ranked one of the top ten most popular universities in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

GSU was ranked seventh tying with Yale and and falling shortly behind Stanford and Harvard, according to a press release.

“Being grouped in with names like Yale, Harvard, Stanford and others it says a lot about the type of university we are building here,” Director of Marketing and Communications, Christian Flathman, said.

GSU was also the only southeastern university to make the top ten list, Flathman said.

“I believe we were the only ones in the Southeast to be ranked as we were. So, that speaks well for us, especially when you consider the other schools in Georgia, it’s good company to be in,” Flathman said

This year GSU fell from fourth to seventh, according to a press release.

“Last year we were ranked fourth in the country in terms of yield. But all signs point to continued growth, “ Flathman said.

The rankings are based on the number of students that apply and then opt to enroll after acceptance, according to a press release.

“One of the best indicators of a school's popularity among students is the school's yield—the percentage of applicants accepted by a college who end up enrolling at that institution in the fall. The figures in these tables are from the fall 2010 entering class and show the students that were accepted, the students that enrolled, and the admit yield,” Flathman said.

“I think it’s great. I mean it wasn’t expected. It’s not like most people wouldn’t think Georgia Southern would be up there. I was sort of surprised, but pleased that I’m going to a school like that. We have a great community and a great campus and classes, like there’s a lot of great stuff going on,” Adrienne Harris, a sophomore biology major, said.

“I feel pretty great about it actually, I mean Georgia Southern was my number one choice coming here. Georgia Southern has a great education system, which I think people doubt in a sense because it’s known as a party school, or we drink a lot or you know STDs and stuff like that, but I think we have a great education system,” Brea Jefferson Sophomore, a psychology pre-med major, said.

 “Not only does it attract additional students, but from an alumni perspective it is just as important. A lot of people can be very, very proud of that diploma handing on the wall,” Flathman said.

“To be ranked among the nation’s best, I think speaks a lot about the institution and I think that coupled with other things, people are starting to take notice, and that is important,” Flathman said.