News & Events

UNC Asheville Featured in Princeton Review’s “The Best 377 Colleges”

August 20, 2012

UNC Asheville is featured in the Princeton Review's "The Best 377 Colleges – 2013 Edition," and is also ranked #11 on the "college city gets high marks" list that is part of the annual guidebook released today. The Princeton Review selected the 377 colleges and universities from among more than 2,000 on which data are collected, primarily based on academic strength. The "best of" lists and descriptions of each college in the guidebook are based on a survey of 122,000 students who provide candid assessments of their institutions.

The Princeton Review praised UNC Asheville as offering a "top-notch academic experience," citing the liberal arts curriculum, challenging course material, and professors who are devoted and passionate about their fields of study. "The professors' enthusiasm for each course is contagious," said a student quoted in the guide. An environmental studies major added, "The classes are small enough that the professors know you by name and seem to care if you do well ... tutoring sessions are free and plentiful."

UNC Asheville improved its already high "quality of life" rating to 93 (scale maximum is 99). Students told the Princeton Review that they love living and eating in Asheville. On-campus life, outdoor recreation, athletics and opportunities for relaxing in downtown Asheville were among the features commended for rounding out the college experience at UNC Asheville.

Earlier this year, the Princeton Review included UNC Asheville in its "Guide to 322 Green Colleges," and also ranked UNC Asheville as one of the nation's 75 "Best Value" public colleges. This assessment is echoed by other prominent college rankings. In July, the "Fiske Guide to Colleges" called UNC Asheville "one of the best education bargains in the country," and included the university's Environmental Studies Program in its list of pre-professional programs with unusual strength in preparing students for careers.

Prominent finance magazines also recognize the university's value. Just this month, UNC Asheville was ranked 21st in the nation as a "Best Buy College" by Forbes Magazine. In January, Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine included UNC Asheville as one of the nation's 50 best values in public colleges.