By Dan Nonte, University Relations
Contact: (336) 334-4314
Posted 1-8-09
GREENSBORO, NC – The Princeton Review has ranked UNCG as one of the nation’s best values for an undergraduate education.
The company’s Best Value Colleges for 2009, a list of 50 public and 50 private colleges and universities, was released today and reported in USA Today. The rankings are based on academics, cost and financial aid.
“UNCG provides a great value for our students and their families,” said Chancellor Linda P. Brady. “This ranking in The Princeton Review’s Best Value Colleges is a tribute to the dedication of our faculty, the generosity of our alumni and friends, and the steadfast support of the leaders and people of North Carolina.”
The complete Best Value list is available online at the web sites of both The Princeton Review and USA Today. In addition to UNCG, the North Carolina institutions on the list are Davidson, Duke, Elon, N.C. State, UNC Asheville and UNC Wilmington.
UNCG's entry reads: "Chartered in 1891, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro is one of the three original institutions of the University of North Carolina system and home to six professional schools and two colleges, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Lloyd International Honors College. The former, which is larger by far, houses an impressive variety of departments and programs that include everything from African American studies to film and video production to drama to medical technology—all told, over 100 different courses of study. And for those with the proper qualifications who are looking to forge their own educational opportunities, the Lloyd International Honors College offers the opportunity to travel abroad, take on special research projects, and receive certain priorities, which include honors advising and library privileges.
"But even though the variety of programs is legion, and the incoming classes are at record highs, (the fall 2005 freshman class clocked in at 2,424), students don't feel like just another brick in the wall. This has to do, in large part, with the intimate student-faculty ratio of 16:1, an average class size of under 30, and the fact that over 90 percent of classes are taught by the professors themselves. What's more, the professors are very accessible, offering not only extensive office hours, but commonly handing out their e-mail addresses and cell phone numbers so that they can offer additional help to students when necessary.
"And speaking of brick, the picturesque 210-acre campus features 30 academic buildings and 24 residence halls set against lush green walks and trees. There is plenty of space not only for classes, but also for socializing and extracurricular activities, which is a good thing considering that there are over 140 student organizations, 16 intercollegiate athletic teams, and everything from dance troupes to a fishing club. And yet despite all the activity, the atmosphere is decidedly mellow and accepting, whether you're a Bach fanatic or a Gap devotee. Student backgrounds are as diverse as their interests, representing 49 states and over 81 countries. The dating scene might be a little tough on the ladies, since many of the undergraduate men are either spoken for or prefer their own company, but it's a bonus for the guys, since women outnumber men by over two to one."
The selection criteria include more than 30 factors. Academic rankings are based on student surveys about professors’ accessibility and other issues, and on institutional reports about student-faculty ratios and the percentage of classes taught by teaching assistants. The financial aid ratings are based on a combination of school-reported data and student surveys.
Tuition, fees, room, board and books for full-time students at UNCG cost about $10,000 per year for in-state students and $21,500 for out-of-state students. For more information about undergraduate admissions, visit http://web.uncg.edu/adm.
The Princeton Review, a New York City-based company, is known for its test preparation courses, education services and books. It compiles annual college, business and law school rankings.
