News & Events

UNC Asheville Ranked Among Nation’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report

August 17, 2010

UNC Asheville received high marks in the 2011 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” rankings released on August 17. UNC Asheville ranked fifth among National Liberal Arts Colleges in “The 2011 Up-and-Comers” list, which highlights schools with “the most promising and innovative changes.” This select list leads the overall rankings in the 2011 edition of the U.S. News & World Report “Best Colleges” guidebook, which will be available on-line August 17 and on newsstands August 24.

UNC Asheville was also one of only 25 universities in the nation to make the U.S. News & World Report list of “stellar” schools for undergraduate research/creative projects. UNC Asheville, Duke, and UNC-Chapel Hill are the lone North Carolina representatives on this list. UNC Asheville, which founded the National Council for Undergraduate Research more than 20 years ago, has made this roster annually since it began nine years ago.

In addition, UNC Asheville was included on the list of 39 National Liberal Arts Colleges with the strongest commitment to undergraduate teaching.

“UNC Asheville students are well-prepared, creative and adaptable, and they are focused on solutions to the world’s most pressing problems,” said Chancellor Anne Ponder. “Our superb faculty challenge each and every student through our rigorous curriculum and unique opportunities for undergraduate research, creative expression and service to the community. Employers and graduate schools regularly confirm that ours is a highly successful formula for future accomplishment. It is gratifying to be recognized for our dynamic learning environment, knowing that this may help other talented students find their way to our beautiful campus.”

U.S. News & World Report’s overall rankings include a number of factors, including financial support from alumni, grades and test scores of incoming freshmen and admissions selectivity along with the quality of instruction and curriculum. UNC Asheville was ranked sixth among public institutions in the National Liberal Arts Colleges category and number 158 in the category overall.

Again this year, UNC Asheville was recognized by U.S. News & World Report for affordability as measured by student debt. The university ranked 14th among National Liberal Arts Colleges for least debt among graduating students. This is consistent with findings from other leading college rankings services. The 2011 edition of the “Fiske Guide to Colleges,” issued in July, called UNC Asheville “one of the best educational bargains in the country.” In January, Princeton Review named UNC Asheville to its “Best College Values for 2010” list.