UNC Asheville Gaining in National Recognition;
Moves to Fourth in U.S. News & World Report's Ranking of Public Liberal Arts Colleges

UNC Asheville is ranked fourth in the nation among public liberal arts colleges in U.S. News & World Report's annual college rankings, released August 22. This is the third year that UNCA has been among the top five; it was ranked fifth for the past two years. The annual rankings look at a range of measures, including academic reputation, commitment to instruction, student abilities, financial resources, and graduation and retention rates.

U.S. News & World Report also examined a series of "outstanding examples of academic programs that lead to student success." These "Programs to Look For" included the category of Undergraduate Research. UNCA's Undergraduate Research Program was one of 39 in the country to be included in the roster, along with many of the nation's leading research universities. An innovator in undergraduate research, UNCA founded the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in 1986 to promote faculty-student collaborations in all disciplines.

UNCA Chancellor Jim Mullen said that this new ranking, along with other rankings received in the past few weeks, affirms the fine educational opportunity UNCA offers to students from Western North Carolina and across the state and nation. "The University of North Carolina Asheville continues to gain a national reputation for excellence. I'm delighted that people all over this nation are realizing that our faculty, staff and students have created a liberal arts community of learning that stands with the best in the country. It's wonderful to have their hard work affirmed in this manner."

Earlier this week, UNCA was listed among the nation's 20 colleges and universities that offer the "Best Academic Bang for Your Buck" in the 2004 edition of The Princeton Review's "The Best 351 Colleges." This is the second year UNCA has earned this designation.

In August, UNCA was among 44 American and Canadian colleges named a "Best Buy" in the 2004 edition of "The Fiske Guide to Colleges." This is the 10th consecutive year that UNCA has made the "Best Buy" list.

Media Contacts:

• Merianne Epstein, UNCA Public Information Director, 828/251-6676