Why is UNC Asheville where your successful future starts? Let the numbers and rankings speak for themselves.

Located in the vibrant city of Asheville, UNC Asheville is the heart of the liberal arts and sciences in the University of North Carolina System. Join our thriving community of 3,000 undergraduates who learn in small classes and engage in paradigm-shifting research projects taught and mentored by renowned faculty.

National Rankings & Accolades

UNC Asheville’s rankings on regional, national, and global lists consistently demonstrate our distinguished reputation as a top college for budding discoverers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and creatives. We’re a top public university with an exceptionally sustainable campus in a highly regarded college city—but don’t just take our word for it!

US News & World Report

#9


Top Public Schools, National Liberal Arts Colleges

#60


Social Mobility

#136


Overall Ranking in National Liberal Arts Colleges

Top 200


Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs

Top 200


Best Undergraduate Psychology Programs

Top 300


Best Undergraduate Computer Science Programs

Top 400


Best Undergraduate Business Programs

The Princeton Review

#5


Best Health Services

#6


Most Politically Active Students

#6


Green Matters: Everyone Cares About Conservation

#14


Most Engaged in Community Service

#15


College City Gets High Marks

#17


Town-Gown Relations Are Great

#19


LGBTQ-Friendly

#25


Best Quality of Life

#46


Top 50 Green Colleges

Niche’s 2023 Best Colleges in America

#3


Liberal Arts University in North Carolina

#4


Best College Location

#5


Best Small Colleges in North Carolina

#5


Best College Dorms in North Carolina

#7


Colleges with Best Professors

#79


Best Colleges for Public Health

 College Raptor

Top Hidden Gem Colleges in the Southeast

Top 25 Hidden Gem Colleges for the Middle Class


Excellent Liberal Arts and Sciences Education

Blend curiosity and fulfillment in our dynamic academic experiences founded in the liberal arts and sciences. From our most popular majors—Psychology, Environmental Studies, Mass Communication, Biology, Business, Computer Science, and Health and Wellness Promotion—to highly specialized programs like Physics & Astronomy, Drama, and Africana Studies, you will grow bolder alongside excited peers, attentive faculty, and world-opening mentors.

Moreover, UNC Asheville is the headquarters for the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, an organization of state-supported institutions that advance liberal arts and sciences education for greater understanding of our complex global society.

65+ Programs

Leading to the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees


220

Full-time faculty members, 87 percent with terminal degrees


Bulldogs from 40 states & 21 countries


72%

Receive need or merit-based financial aid



Personalized Academic Experience

Small classes and collaborative relationships with professors are a hallmark of your education at UNC Asheville.

Renuka Gusain teaching a class in Rhoades Robinson

2,907


Students

14


Average Lecture/Seminar Class Size

11:1


Student-faculty ratio

20%


First-Generation Students

21%


Students of Color

30%


Pell Grant Recipients

Undergraduate Research – Inspire Creative and Critical Thinking 

Expand your opportunities as an academic and a professional through independent research at UNC Asheville. We prioritize the possibilities and responsibilities of undergraduate research: Each year, we invest more than $1 in research projects and awards. 

A student presenting his undergraduate research - 2018

49


students and alumni have been awarded the prestigious Fulbright Scholarships

65%


of students complete original research in their field of study

20%


of students study abroad while enrolled at UNC Asheville

A Dynamic Life on Campus

Engage in a community of learners, leaders, listeners, and life-changers on the UNC Asheville campus.

students walking and chatting along the quad

95% 

Freshman undergraduates live on campus

16

NCAA Division 1 teams

60+

Clubs and organizations, ranging from honor societies to intramural sports

10

Minutes from campus to downtown using free public transit
Two students sit near a walkway by ramsey library talking to each other

Thrive in a Sustainable Campus

At UNC Asheville, we care about our environment and are committed to making our campus more eco-friendly. 

#9 on a list of the 50 best ‘small’ college areas to live and study in the U.S

A Certified Bee Campus USA since 2016

Bicycle Friendly University – The League of American Bicyclists

Find Your Path at UNC Asheville – Apply Today!

Why choose UNC Asheville? Our standings in industry-leading publications tell half the story, and we’re here to tell you the other half: because our combination of robust academics, collaborative community, compelling undergraduate research, and high-value education is hard to find anywhere else.

Learn more about our student admissions, enrollment demographics, completion rates, financial aid, graduates, employees, and much more on the UNC Asheville data dashboards.