Wilmington, N.C. – The University of North Carolina Wilmington is one of the top four "Best Values" among public universities in North Carolina, according to Kiplinger's 2008 rankings. Since 2003, Kiplinger has rated UNC Wilmington in the top five for the state.

Kiplinger's said public colleges and universities in the top 100 "are noteworthy for their combination of top-flight academics and affordable costs." UNCW ranked 36th nationally for "best value" to in-state students and 51st for out-of-state students.

Of UNCW's 15 peer institutions, which are determined by the UNC Board of Governors, 11 appear in the January 2008 listing of Kiplinger's top 100 best values in public colleges. For the third consecutive year, the top four best values among UNCW's peers, comprised of public master's institutions, are James Madison University, the College of New Jersey, Truman State and UNCW.

"It is again gratifying to find UNC Wilmington ranked with the best institutions of higher education in the state and the nation," said Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo. "Our goal as a public university is to provide the most powerful learning experience possible for our students, at the most affordable price. Every day our administrators, faculty and staff take steps to further this goal, which is clearly recognized in the new Kiplinger rankings."

The Kiplinger rankings are based on data that more than 500 public four-year colleges and universities provide. The emphasis on academic strength is reflected in the scoring, with academic quality measurements carrying more weight than costs (academic quality is more than two-thirds of the overall score). Measures of academic quality include freshman SAT scores, admission rates, freshman retention rates, student-faculty ratios and four- and six-year graduation rates.

UNCW also has received top rankings from U.S.News & World Report and The Princeton Review. For the tenth consecutive year, UNCW was named one of the top 10 public master's universities in the South in the annual college rankings by U.S.News & World Report. UNCW ranks sixth in the 2008 edition, moving up from a seventh place ranking the previous year. UNCW also received the 2008 "Best in the Southeast" designation by The Princeton Review. On the list of 150 "Best Value" colleges, UNCW is designated as one of the best overall bargains - based on cost and financial aid - among the most academically outstanding colleges in the nation.

UNCW Media Contact:

Dana Fischetti, manager of news and media services, 910.962.7259 or fischettid@uncw.edu.