Tuesday, January 10, 2006

WILMINGTON, N.C. - Among public universities in North Carolina, the University of North Carolina Wilmington is one of the top three "Best Values," according to Kiplinger's 2006 rankings. Kiplinger's said schools in the top 100 "are noteworthy for their combination of top-flight academics and affordable costs."

For in-state students, UNCW is third behind UNC Chapel Hill and NC State University. It is ranked 32nd nationally.

For out-of-state students, UNCW is third behind, UNC Chapel Hill and Appalachian State University. It is ranked 48th nationally.

Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo was pleased to see UNCW's improved ranking. "This ranking reflects the way that the faculty really care about the students here, the challenges that we set for them, and how we help those students meet those challenges. You just get a great education at UNCW," says DePaolo.

Kiplinger's rankings are based on data that more than 500 public four-year colleges and universities provided to Thomson Peterson's. The list was narrowed to 130 schools based on several measures of academic quality including:

Percentage of the 2004-05 freshman class scoring 600 or higher on the verbal and math components of the SAT

Admission rates

Freshman retention rates

Student-faculty ratios

Four- and six-year graduation rates, which most schools reported for the student cohort entering in 1997

Each school was then ranked according to cost and financial aid with the following items considered:

Total cost for students (tuition, mandatory fees, room and board and estimated expenses for books)

Average cost for a student with need after subtracting grants (but not loans)

Average cost for a student without need after subtracting non-need-based grants

Average percentage of need met by aid (need-based assistance)

Average debt a student accumulates before graduation

More information is available at http://www.kiplinger.com/personalfinance/tools/colleges/