Tuesday, September 08, 2015

The University of North Carolina Wilmington ranks among the top 20 “Best Regional Universities” in the South, according to the “Best Colleges, 2016 Edition” published by U.S. News and World Report, the university announced today. UNCW maintains its standing at 16^th on the regional universities list. UNCW also maintains its top 10 position among public universities in the South for more than five years, ranking 6^th on this year’s list.    

For the first time, UNCW received recognition on U.S. News & World Report’s “2016 Best Colleges for Veterans” list, ranking 14^th among universities in the South. UNCW placed 4^th among the public universities on that list.

The “Best Colleges” regional list is comprised of schools that provide a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s programs in four geographic regions – North, South, Midwest and West. The “Best Colleges for Veterans” list provides information about top-ranked schools committed to making college education more affordable for military veterans and active-duty service members, according to U.S. News.

“These rankings reflect UNCW’s steadfast commitment to providing students with a high-quality and affordable education,” said Chancellor Jose V. Sartarelli. “Our university consistently receives national recognition because our faculty and staff are dedicated to teaching and mentoring students, advancing research and actively engaging with the communities around UNCW.”

Inclusion on the “Best Colleges for Veterans” list is especially meaningful to UNCW, the chancellor added, because the institution was founded in 1947 to provide educational opportunities to veterans returning from World War II.

“Today, UNCW continues its tradition of service to veterans and active-duty personnel by offering flexible online and traditional programs and operating the Onslow County Extension site in partnership with Coastal Carolina Community College, Marine Corps Base (MCB) Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) New River,” Sartarelli said.

This fall, UNCW was also recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the “Best Southeastern” schools on their regional bests list. In July, UNCW was named a 2015-2016 College of Distinction by Colleges of Distinction; one of the 30 Most Beautiful Coastal College Campuses by Best Value Schools; and placed 10th on the Top 50 Values for Public Colleges and Universities by Consumers Digest. The university also ranked in the top 10 for its nursing and education online degree programs on the SR Education’s 2015 Top Online Degrees list.

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The University of North Carolina Wilmington, the state’s coastal university, is dedicated to learning through the integration of teaching and mentoring with research and service. A public institution with over 15,000 students, the university is widely acknowledged for its superb faculty and staff and a powerful academic experience that stimulates creative inquiry, critical thinking, thoughtful expression and responsible citizenship. With an array of high-quality programs at the baccalaureate and master’s levels, and doctoral programs in marine biology and educational leadership, UNCW is continuously recognized at a national level for academic excellence and affordability. UNCW is dedicated to offering a community rich in diversity and inclusion, global perspectives, and enriching the quality of life through scholarly community engagement in such areas as health, education, the economy, the environment, marine and coastal issues, and the arts.