Monday, September 13, 2021

UNCW is one of only three UNC System schools among the Top 100 Public National Universities for 2022, according to a new list of “Best Colleges 2022” from U.S. News & World Report.

This is the third year that UNCW has made the publication’s Top 100 list of national public universities, following the university’s elevation in 2018 to the category of “Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity” in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. UNCW tied with Oklahoma State University and University of Louisville at 96th place on the U.S. News ranking. UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State University are the other two UNC Systems schools on the Top 100 list.

"UNCW's continued ranking among the top 100 public national universities in the nation reflects the high quality of our academic programs, research endeavors and community engagement partnerships," Chancellor Jose V. Sartarelli said. "UNCW excels because our students, faculty and staff embrace a collaborative, can-do attitude that defines Seahawk spirit. This recognition honors them and all that they routinely accomplish."

UNCW has consistently been recognized for affordability and academic quality, both foundations of its Strategic Plan. Earlier in September, UNCW set a new enrollment record, enrolling more than 18,000 students – the largest student body in the university’s 74-year history. UNCW’s graduate student population has increased by 94 percent since 2016, a sign of the high demand for the university’s quality programs.

This year, U.S. News & World Report published its first-ever “Best Undergraduate Bachelor of Science in Nursing” program rankings, and UNCW tied for 120. UNCW is represented on several other U.S. News lists for 2022, including “Best Schools for Veterans” (tied for 121), “Best Business Programs Overall” (tied for 212); “Best Value Schools among National Universities” (190); “Best Computer Science Programs” (tied for 252). The university also ranked “Best Overall” (tied for 187 with eight universities including University of Louisville (KY) and Oklahoma State University).

Additionally, UNCW is ranked 19th nationally on U.S. News & World Report’s list of “2021 Best Online Bachelor’s Programs,” highlighting UNCW’s two qualifying programs, Nursing and Clinical Research. This is the third consecutive year that UNCW’s online bachelor’s programs have ranked in the U.S. News Top 20. UNCW is tied with George Washington University.

Several UNCW graduate programs were also recognized among the best online programs: Nursing; MBA Programs; Non-MBA Business Master’s Programs; and Education. Each program improved its ranking from 2020, and the graduate nursing program rose 33 places to 80th nationally, tied with the University of Iowa and the Lewis University College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Also, UNCW was named a “Best Southeastern School” among 143 colleges that made the list of “2022 Best Colleges: Region by Region” by The Princeton Review. The Princeton Review’s list does not rank colleges and universities, but UNCW is among just 143 colleges featured on the “Best Southeastern” list.

Earlier this year, UNCW launched Like No Other: The Campaign for UNCW, and thanks to the generosity of thousands of alumni, students, employees and donors, the university is moving ever closer to its goal to raise at least $100 million in philanthropic support for scholarships, professorships, programs and other university priorities. Over the past few years, UNCW has undertaken about $450 million in campus construction, dedicating the newest Student Housing Village on Aug. 16. The university recently opened a new film studies building, a new dining hall and a coastal engineering building are in the works, and UNCW has plans for future library expansion and renovation. The university has also added several innovative academic programs, including new undergraduate degrees in respiratory therapy, cybersecurity* and intelligent systems engineering*; and statewide partnerships to create pathways for community college students and for those students interested in becoming future pharmacists.

UNCW is in a period of continued exponential growth, not just in enrollment, facilities, programming and research, but also in its efforts to create a campus climate that is more inclusive, diverse and equitable. Collectively, UNCW’s community of scholars is committed to the Seahawk Respect Compact, which fosters a healthy environment of learning and growth for all.

*These programs are slated to start in fall 2022, pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

-- Krissy Vick

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