UNC Asheville announced Feb. 4 that it has been ranked third nationally on the “Best Schools for Making an Impact” list, part of The Princeton Review’s new college rankings guide that had just been published.

The guide,“Colleges That Pay You Back: The 200 Best Value Colleges and What It Takes to Get In – 2015 Edition,” ranks UNCA as one of only four public universities included on the “making an impact” list. (N.C .State University is ranked 25th).

This new guide is an expansion of The Princeton Review’s annual winter “best values” rankings; UNCA also had been included in the prior eight “best values” rankings.

For this new edition, The Princeton Review developed a “Return-on-Education” (ROE) rating, which weighs many factors including academics, cost, financial aid, student debt, graduation rates, alumni salaries and job satisfaction.

UNCA scored an 85 on this ROE scale, placing it among the 200 schools selected for inclusion, narrowed from 650 reviewed.

“This ranking recognizes that a liberal arts education prepares our students not only to succeed professionally, but to use their skills and knowledge to make a positive impact on their communities,” said UNCA Chancellor Mary K. Grant.

“Our graduates see the big picture of how their work can create a better world, and it starts with an undergraduate experience that includes research, community involvement, and problem solving.”

UNCA’s educational excellence, affordability and undergraduate research program were cited by The Princeton Review, which stated that, “The myriad research opportunities help flesh out a résumé, and the stress on real-world application gets students job ready.”

During the fall 2014 semester, Kiplinger Personal Finance and The Fiske Guide to Colleges ranked UNCA as a “best value.” 

UNCA also was the only public university to be included by U.S. News and World Report on the “Best Undergraduate Teaching” list of national liberal arts colleges – placing eighth nationally, in addition to ranking eighth among public liberal arts institutions.

For a complete summary of UNC Asheville’s national rankings, visit https://www.unca.edu/about/facts-and-figures/rankings.