The U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Colleges list ranks UNC No. 1 for best value among public institutions and No. 4 overall among public universities in the United States. UNC has been ranked among the top five public universities for 24 consecutive years, and its No. 4 ranking represents a step up from No. 5 on the previous year’s list. It also continued its streak topping the best value list, with it now reaching 21 consecutive years as No. 1.

“Rising from No. 5 to No. 4 in these rankings clearly shows the impact of our public mission and the hard work of our students, faculty and staff,” said UNC chancellor Lee Roberts. “Holding strong as the No. 1 public university for best value affirms our relentless pursuit of an accessible, affordable education. Our goal is to be the nation’s best public university, and this recognition shows we are on the right path. I am grateful to everyone whose dedication continues to drive Carolina forward.”

Additional high rankings for UNC include:

  • No. 4 (tied) for Bachelor of Science in nursing
  • No. 7 in management
  • No. 7 (tied) in marketing
  • No. 8 (tied) for undergraduate business
  • No. 8 in finance
  • No. 8 (tied) for best colleges for veterans
  • No. 10 in real estate

The 2026 Best Colleges list evaluated more than 1,700 colleges and universities across the country using more than a dozen factors. Among all private and public colleges in the United States, UNC ranked No. 26 overall. To read the U.S. News & World Report’s full list, click here.

 

Featured image via UNC-Chapel Hill

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Among Top 5 Public Universities in 2027 Rankings, Falls From Top 'Best Value' Spot
UNC-Chapel Hill placed in the top 5 of public universities once again in the latest U.S. News & World Report’s latest Best Colleges Rankings — marking a milestone streak for the school while another ended. The 2027 edition of the rankings is the 25th consecutive year UNC has ranked in the top 5 of public […]
UNC Ranked No. 5 Public University, Best Value in Latest U.S. News & World Report List
The latest rankings from the U.S. News & World Report continued UNC 23-year streak of top 5 finishes among public universities.
UNC Sees 30 Graduate Programs Place Highly in 2025 U.S. News & World Report Rankings
Two UNC graduate schools placed in the top three of their respective categories in the 2025 rankings shared by the U.S. News & World Report.
New Report Ranks UNC Hospitals as Second-Best Hospital in North Carolina
The latest U.S. News & World Report rankings of hospitals once again sees UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill grabbing a top spot.
UNC Named A 'New Ivy' Institution in New Forbes List
Forbes has named UNC one of its 10 “New Ivies,” a group of schools which approach the quality and prestige of an Ivy League institution while producing “smart, driven graduates craved by employers of all types,” according to a release. In compiling the list, Forbes analyzed 2022 admissions data from more than 1,700 schools, then […]
UNC Rises to No. 4 in Princeton Review's List of Best Public University Value
UNC is ranked highly once again in The Princeton Review and U.S. World & News Report's latest university rankings.
UNC, Durham Tech Leaders Discuss Measuring Higher Ed Success
For many years, publications have ranked and rated higher education institutions, saying the goal is to better inform people about the value of their education. But after several schools began declining to participate in the latest round of law school rankings by the U.S. News & World Report, more people began questioning their […]
UNC Named Best Value Among Public Universities for 18th Straight Year
The latest edition of the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges list once again ranked UNC as the best value among all public institutions in the country. It’s the 18th straight year Carolina has topped the list. In addition, UNC tied for fifth place with the University of Florida for top public schools in […]
UNC's Reputation Holds Steady in National, Global College Rankings
UNC tied for 28th - unchanged from last year - in this year's edition of U.S. News & World's Report's list of "America's Best Colleges."
U.S. News & World Report Ranks UNC Fifth Among Public Universities
The U.S. News & World Report has ranked UNC-Chapel Hill fifth in their list of top public schools among national universities. This marks 20 years that UNC has been ranked among the nation’s best universities. The ranking from the U.S. News & World Report also placed UNC among their best value schools list among public national […]
›