UNCSA is among country's best colleges, according to Money magazine

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) is among the nation’s best colleges, according to Money magazine. The magazine’s third annual ranking, released online today, placed UNCSA at No. 60 on its list of 705 schools. Money said these schools “deliver the most value – that is, a great education, at an affordable price, that helps students launch promising careers.”

In a separate ranking of the 50 best values in public colleges, UNCSA placed No. 30. UNC-Chapel Hill is the only other North Carolina school on that list. “These 50 state schools rank the highest on Money’s overall Best Colleges list,” the magazine said.

UNCSA is the highest ranking arts school on Money’s overall list of 705 schools, and one of only five North Carolina schools that placed in Money’s top 100, behind Duke at No. 39, UNC-Chapel Hill at No. 45 and Davidson College at No. 46. Wake Forest University was ranked No. 92.

It’s thrilling to be recognized among the best schools in the country. We provide the highest caliber of artistic training, and help students develop in-demand skills like creative thinking and innovative problem solving.

 Chancellor Lindsay Bierman

“It’s thrilling to be recognized among the best schools in the country,” said Chancellor Lindsay Bierman. “We provide the highest caliber of artistic training, and help students develop in-demand skills like creative thinking and innovative problem solving. Money affirms that a UNCSA education is a great value. For our students, the return on investment is tremendous.”

The magazine noted UNCSA “gets high marks for affordability — more than three-quarters of students receive some form of financial aid, and low-income families pay about $6,500 a year on average."

“The School of the Arts also shines in career outcomes,” the editors wrote. “Recent graduates reported earning an average of $54,800 a year, about 22% higher than other graduates with a similar focus in the arts.” 

Bierman said it is important to note that Money considered more than salary in weighing alumni success, based on a Money/Barnes & Noble survey which showed that 90 percent of parents and students rated a fulfilling career as more valuable than a high-paying career.

“The true value of a college education cannot be measured just in dollars,” Bierman said.    

He added: “While we’ve graduated some of the most successful artists in the world, we’ve also graduated our share of doctors, lawyers, financial planners, entrepreneurs and engineers. Our alumni find success – and fulfillment – in a host of professions.”

Money described UNCSA as “a place for creative types” and noted that “well-known alumni include the actresses Mary-Louise Parker and Anna Camp and Broadway director Joe Mantello.”

Money looked at 2,000 schools, screening out those with graduation rates below the median, financial difficulties, or fewer than 500 undergraduates. The remaining 705 colleges were ranked on 24 factors in three equally-weighted categories: educational quality, affordability, and alumni success.

by Lauren Whitaker

July 11, 2016