UNC is ranked as the No. 3 best value public university in the nation – behind only Georgia Tech and the University of Virginia – on the Princeton Review’s annual list. The ranking is an improvement from 2024, when UNC occupied the No. 4 spot.

Elsewhere, the Princeton Review ranks UNC as the No. 1 best public school for financial aid, the No. 2 best value public school without aid, the No. 8 best public school for making an impact and the No. 15 best alumni network for a public school.

The methodology for the rankings takes into account institutional data, student surveys and alumni salary data collected through this past spring.

“We have a profound responsibility to the people of North Carolina — who have provided longstanding support to our university — to provide an exceptional education at an accessible and affordable cost,” said chancellor Lee Roberts. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our faculty, staff and students who work together every day to prove that excellence and affordability aren’t mutually exclusive in higher education.”

In addition, UNC received a 93/99 rating for return on investment. The rating is based on multiple data points, including student debt, graduation rates and alumni career outcomes.

For a full look at the Princeton Review’s rankings of UNC and other schools, click here.

 

Featured image via UNC

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