UNCP Earns Top 10 U.S. News Ranking for Value
UNC Pembroke earned a top 10 ranking for value in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, placing No. 6 among all ranked public regional universities in the South in the publication’s inaugural Best Value for In-State Students category.
UNCP also climbed eight positions to No. 21 in the overall Best Value Schools ranking. The university has the lowest net cost — $12,362 — among all ranked public regional universities in the South, with one in two UNCP undergraduate students graduating debt-free.
“Our students and their families expect a high-quality education that is also within reach, and we take that responsibility seriously,” Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings said. “We rank in the top third of regional universities in the South while offering the lowest net cost among ranked public regional universities in the region. For students and families, that means they don't have to choose between quality and affordability. It reflects our commitment to providing an education that creates opportunity without creating unnecessary financial burden.”
UNCP also ranked No. 23 among Top Public Schools and No. 45 overall among Regional Universities South.
Student outcomes account for more than half of the methodology U.S. News uses to calculate its overall Best Colleges rankings, including graduation and retention, outcomes for students receiving federal Pell Grants and post-graduation earnings. Its Best Value rankings consider academic quality alongside the cost of attendance for students receiving need-based financial aid.
That affordability comes with an academic experience built around personal attention and opportunities to apply learning beyond the classroom. As an NC Promise institution, UNCP offers undergraduate tuition of $500 per semester for North Carolina residents and $3,500 per semester for out-of-state students. Students benefit from a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio and opportunities to put their education into practice through research, internships, clinical experiences and other hands-on learning.
“These recognitions reflect the strength of the education our students receive and the commitment of the faculty and staff who make that possible,” said Dr. Diane Prusank, provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. “Our faculty are deeply invested in their students — as teachers, mentors and scholars. Across the university, that commitment creates an environment where students are challenged, supported and given opportunities to grow, preparing them to graduate with the knowledge, confidence and experience to succeed.”
The university was also recognized among southern universities as a Top Performer on Social Mobility, a designation that recognizes universities for successfully enrolling and graduating students who receive federal Pell Grants. UNCP was also recognized among the Best Colleges for Veterans, following its earlier-this-year designation as the No. 1 Military Friendly School among small public institutions and the No. 2 Military Spouse Friendly School for 2026-27.
The 2027 rankings also showed gains in several UNCP academic programs, led by the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, which climbed 54 positions to No. 195 nationally. The BSN is part of a growing continuum of nursing education within the McKenzie-Elliott School of Nursing, which awarded UNCP’s first Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees in December and welcomed the first students this fall into a new family nurse practitioner track within its Master of Science in Nursing program.
The broader nursing portfolio is helping meet growing demand for nurses and advanced practice providers across North Carolina, preparing graduates at multiple levels to strengthen the healthcare workforce in southeastern North Carolina and across the state.
UNCP’s undergraduate business program also rose 34 positions to No. 390 nationally. The Thomas College of Business and Economics holds AACSB International accreditation, a distinction held by just 6% of institutions offering business degrees worldwide. The computer science program was nationally ranked for the first time and recently earned initial accreditation from ABET’s Computing Accreditation Commission.
“Ultimately, these rankings are about the opportunities we are creating for our students,” Cummings said. “We want every graduate to leave UNC Pembroke prepared to build a meaningful career, contribute to their community and go beyond what they imagined possible.”