2015 rankings of public colleges released by The Business Journals

Posted Feb. 17, 2015 at 2:56 p.m.

BOONE—The rankings keep rolling in for Appalachian State University and other N.C. schools. Recently The Business Journals, a division of American City Business Journals, published their top ranking of the nation’s 484 public colleges and universities.

Appalachian came in at No. 66 based on the publication’s ranking methodology that included best educational experiences to students, highly selective admissions processes, strong retention and graduation rates, prestigious reputations, affordable tuitions and housing costs, diverse faculties and student bodies, and economically robust communities.

Coming in at No. 2 on the list was UNC Chapel Hill, followed by N.C. State University at 23, UNC Wilmington at 49 and UNC Asheville at 91.

Earlier this year, Appalachian was included in U.S. News and World Report’s list of colleges that operate most efficiently. The ranking was based on undergraduate academic educational quality in relation to the amount spent on educational programs to achieve that quality.

In the “Regional Universities (South)” category, Appalachian was listed first based on the university’s $162.96 spent per student. UNC Wilmington was listed fourth, spending $206.30 per student. Appalachian and UNCW were the only North Carolina institutions out of five southern regional universities included on the list.

In December 2014, Appalachian was included in Kiplinger’s Best College Values list, achieving a rank of 39 for in-state costs and 46 for out-of-state costs.

What’s on the horizon? Rankings tend to be cyclical, with U.S. News and World Report and Sierra magazine releasing their varied lists in the fall and Princeton Review releasing their green college guide in the spring and “Best in the Southeast” list in summer.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.