NATCHEZ — Alcorn State University Student Vidit Jain has achieved something which most college students can only dream.

With Alcorn’s recent high rankings on the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges, Jain is proud to say he is a student at a top-ranked college.

“The feeling … is just too great, because it’s something that other people can dream of, and I have achieved that,” Jain said.

Alcorn was recently ranked No. 29 in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges list’s Top Public Schools Regional Universities (South), moving from No. 35 last year. The college tied with Austin Peay State University and the University of Central Arkansas.

Alcorn also tied with Austin Peay State University and the University of Central Arkansas for No. 68 in the Regional Universities (South) category, up from 73 last year.

The university also ranked No. 27 in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities category, tying with Albany State University.

The U.S. News ranks schools in different categories using criteria such as academic reputation and retention and graduation rates.

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Donzell Lee said Alcorn moving up in the listing was a sign the school is committed to continuing an atmosphere of excellence.

“We want to always put our best foot forward and, for that reason, we’re always striving to move even higher,” Lee said.

Lee said Alcorn’s smaller size enables it to give students a unique experience.

“At our institution we have a family-like atmosphere,” Lee said. “We really know who are our students are, by name.”

“So we’re able to tailor experiences for them based on their needs.”

Jain said the small class sizes drew him to Alcorn, as well as the quality of the teachers.

“I studied some of the reviews online, so the main attraction was the student-to-teacher ratio,” Jain said.

Alcorn student Afua Antwi-Boasiako, 21, said the smaller classes are different from classes at home in Ghana, where she’s seen classes with more than 100 students.

Antwi-Boasiako said the friendly and small-town atmosphere at Alcorn is also a plus.

“People are friendly,” Antwi-Boasiako said. “It’s a nice place to study because it’s away from the city.”

Student Margeria Smith, 37, is also fond of the campus’ location. Smith is a Lorman native; many of her family members have attended Alcorn as well.

“Alcorn is home to me,” she said.

Smith said she’s found faculty and even other students to be supportive.

“I think some people have had more confidence in me than I’ve had in myself,” Smith said.

And, like Jain, coming to Alcorn hasn’t been a decision she’s regretted either.

“I don’t think I would’ve gone anywhere else,” she said.