UNCA has been named a "Best Buy" among American colleges in the 2002 edition of the prestigious guidebook, the Fiske Guide to Colleges.

The annual guide to "the best and most interesting colleges in America," is edited by Edward B. Fiske, former education editor at the New York Times. This is the eighth consecutive year that UNCA has earned top marks from Fiske.

UNCA was one of 43 education institutions, 21 public and 22 private, that Fiske cited as offering "remarkable educational opportunities at a relatively modest cost." UNC Chapel Hill was the only other institution in North Carolina to be named a best buy.

"This public liberal arts university offers all of the perks that are generally associated with pricier private institutions: rigorous academics, small classes and a beautiful setting. And it does it for a fraction of the cost," the Fiske Guide said. "All the ingredients for a superior college experience lie in wait at Asheville: strong academics, dedicated professors, and an administration that continues to push for excellence."

The guide gave high marks to UNCA’s close interaction between students and faculty; faculty expertise and accessibility; the demanding core curriculum, which includes a nationally recognized four-course humanities sequence that all students take; the undergraduate research program; and the athletics program.

For more information, call UNCA’s Admissions Office at 828/251-6481 or 800/531-9842.