UNC Asheville’s main campus and South Campus, with downtown Asheville in the background. Photo courtesy of UNC Asheville/Rafael Aguilera.ASHEVILLE, N.C. – November 18, 2025 – UNC Asheville – has been recognized as the #8 Best College in North Carolina in Research.com’s prestigious 2026 ranking of top US colleges. The ranking, which evaluates over 1,700 institutions nationwide, honors colleges that provide students with the optimal combination of affordability, quality of education, and projected alumni salary.
Research.com, one of the leading academic platforms in the United States, selected institutions from more than 6,000 colleges and universities based on a comprehensive analysis of over 400 metrics from credible sources including the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard. The rankings utilize a unique entropy method to evaluate institutional performance across multiple dimensions.
UNC Asheville earned distinction in three categories within the North Carolina rankings:
- #8 Best Colleges in North Carolina
- #11 Most Affordable Colleges in North Carolina
- #16 Best Value Colleges in North Carolina
UNC Asheville’s strong performance in the rankings reflects the university’s comprehensive approach to student success, including:
- Academic Excellence: 60+ majors in the liberal arts and sciences, with innovative programs in emerging fields
- Undergraduate Research: Nationally recognized for providing hands-on research opportunities across all disciplines
- Career Preparation: Strong alumni outcomes with graduates pursuing meaningful careers and graduate education
- Personalized Learning: Small class sizes ensuring direct interaction with distinguished faculty
- Financial Accessibility: Robust financial aid programs making education attainable for students from diverse economic backgrounds
About UNC Asheville
Founded in 1927, UNC Asheville is a proud member of the University of North Carolina System. With award-winning faculty, small class sizes, and 90+ academic programs in the natural sciences, human sciences, humanities, arts, and social sciences, the University is recognized for its robust paid internship programs to prepare students to immediately enter the workforce. In the US News & World Report 2025 edition of Best Colleges, UNC Asheville is ranked No. #9 in Top Public Schools, and No. #7 in Princeton Review’s 2025 Top 50 Guide to Green Colleges. Known as the Bulldogs, UNC Asheville student-athletes compete in 16 NCAA Division I Teams in the Big South Conference. For more information, please visit: www.unca.edu.
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