U.S. News & World Report ranked 252 liberal arts colleges, 225 private and 27 public, in this year's survey. The annual college rankings look at a range of measures, including academic reputation, commitment to instruction, student abilities and admissions selectivity, college financial resources, graduation and retention rates, and alumni financial support.

Said UNC Asheville Chancellor Anne Ponder, "It is always gratifying to be recognized for the great work our faculty and staff undertake every day as we challenge and inspire our students to great scholarship, research and service. It is especially rewarding, in this economic climate, to be able to assure access to a stellar educational experience for all students, regardless of their financial situation. These rankings affirm our continued success in both endeavors."

UNC Asheville was also again recognized by U.S. News & World Report for affordability as measured by student debt. The university ranked 22nd among 252 private and public national liberal arts colleges for least debt among students graduating in 2010.

The U.S. News & World Report rankings are among several accolades UNC Asheville has recently received. In August 2011, Forbes magazine ranked UNC Asheville 26th in the nation on its "Top 100 Best Buy Colleges" roster. Also in August, UNC Asheville was included in the Princeton Review's new edition of "The Best 376 Colleges" and as ranked as one of 20 institutions that have "Great College Towns."

In July 2011, the "Fiske Guide to Colleges" ranked UNC Asheville among the nation's top colleges, and for the eighth consecutive year, UNC Asheville's Environmental Studies Program was among 29 in the nation that showed unusual strength in preparing students for careers.

In June 2011, UNC Asheville was named one of America's �10 Best Colleges for the Money" by Bankrate.com, a leading online source of financial information. UNC Asheville was the only college in North Carolina to earn a place on this list.

In January 2011, Kiplinger's Personal Finance again ranked UNC Asheville among the nation's top 100 public colleges for its combination of outstanding education with economic value.

(Image provided by UNC Asheville.)

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