Monday, July 20, 2020

The University of North Carolina Wilmington’s engaging academic programs and research opportunities are among the aspects highlighted in the 2021 Fiske Guide to Colleges. The annual guide is a long-time authoritative resource of information for college-bound students. UNCW has been routinely featured in the guide, including the 2020, 2019, 2018 and 2017 editions.

UNCW’s “extensive undergraduate research opportunities, a slate of solid sciences, and a close-knit community” are among its selling points, the Fiske Guide notes. The publication also highlights several specialized programming and opportunities available to students including unique hands-on experiences afforded through applied learning opportunities, the advanced coursework of the Honors College, and first-year learning communities.

“Learning communities are a game changer,” said a student surveyed for the publication. “They allow freshmen to get used to a college workload, but in a familiar environment where they feel comfortable.”

Some of the most popular majors are business administration, nursing, psychology, biology and education. The university’s strengths include the natural sciences, especially marine biology, chemistry, ecology and other disciplines that form the core of the marine sciences, the publication states. “Our university places a large emphasis on lab and fieldwork,” says another student surveyed.

The publication also highlights the university’s high-quality programs in film studies and creative writing as well as new offerings such as business analytics and coastal engineering. One student surveyed notes that “UNCW’s professors are very welcoming, encouraging, and offer ample amounts of help.”

Compiled by former New York Times Education Editor Edward B. Fiske, the Fiske Guide has been a leading resource for over 35 years. Offering an insider’s look at each featured institution, the guide offers prospective students a unique glimpse into student life, available degree programs, campus climate, athletic opportunities and basic admission criteria. Inclusion is based primarily on academic excellence, a key priority of the university’s Strategic Plan.

Elevated to “Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity” in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education in 2018, UNCW debuted at 92nd on the U.S. News list of Top 100 Public National Universities in 2020. The change in status from a master’s-level institution came after years of recognition as a top-10 public regional university in the South by U.S. News. UNCW also ranks 8th nationally on U.S. News & World Report’s list of 2020 Best Online Bachelor’s Programs.

The university has also been recognized by other major ranking organizations. UNCW is ranked 32nd nationally for in-state students and 36th for out-of-state students on Kiplinger’s Best Public College Values 2019 list.

-- Venita Jenkins

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