UNC Asheville Faculty Ranked Among the Best in the State by Niche College Rankings

Landon Ward, senior lecturer of environmental studies, teaches a field biology class in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
September 22, 2023

UNC Asheville was showcased in Niche’s 2023 Best Colleges in America as the #3 Liberal Arts University in North Carolina. The ranking highlighted the University’s distinguished faculty, well-located campus, and glowing student reviews.

Accolades were garnered in several specialized categories as well, including #4 Best College Location and #5 Best Small Colleges in North Carolina.

As a student review put it, “UNC Asheville is a welcoming and comforting environment when you first arrive. The size and location of the campus is the best part of the school. It takes less than 10 minutes to get from one side of the school to the other, and it’s really easy to know almost everyone in your graduating class.”

The faculty at UNC Asheville received an impressive A- rating and placed the University at #7 in the state for Colleges with Best Professors, illustrating their academic and research  accomplishments as well as their dedication to teaching and student advancement.

Student surveys noted 84 percent find professors to be engaging and easily understandable, 93 percent consider professors approachable and helpful, and a resounding 98 percent applaud the professors’ passion for their subjects. 

“Due to the smaller size you are able to develop relationships with your professors where they will engage with you and invest in your personal development and success as a student,” a student shared.

Additionally, UNC Asheville’s residence halls received an A- grade based on cost, capacity, and student reviews, earning a #5 position for Best College Dorms in the state.

UNC Asheville offers 16 residence halls with a variety of floor plans and accommodations, including single, double, and suite-style rooms, as well as apartment-style housing for upperclassmen.

Across the nation, the University ranked #79 for Best Colleges for Public Health. UNC Asheville offers a unique Masters of Public Health degree program jointly with UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. The program features a concentration in place-based health, which centers people and their communities as the catalyst for transforming systems to promote wellbeing for all.

Regarding safety, 93 percent of students reported feeling extremely safe and secure while on campus.

Finally, in the realm of post-graduation success, most students felt they obtained excellent value for their education with 90 percent of graduates reporting that they had secured employment within two years of graduation. 

Every student surveyed attributed their success to assistance provided by the Career Center in finding jobs and internships. One student remarked that they were “able to secure amazing, career-growing internships through UNC Asheville, and would do it again a million times.”

To view the Niche rankings, click here. For more information about UNC Asheville and its exceptional programs, please visit https://new.unca.edu/.

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