Carolina ranks as nation’s best value for in-state students

UNC-Chapel Hill is again among the nation’s leaders in higher education, ranking in the top five public universities in the country in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings for the 25th consecutive year.

Carolina also ranked as the best value for in-state students in the country. The recognition reflects Carolina’s longstanding commitment to ensuring that North Carolina students have access to an exceptional education at an affordable cost. By combining academic excellence with access and affordability, Carolina continues to deliver on its public mission to prepare students for meaningful careers and lives of impact in North Carolina and beyond.

“Over the last 25 years, Carolina has been the leader in combining educational excellence with outstanding value,” said Chancellor Lee H. Roberts. “We are particularly proud to be recognized as the nation’s best value for in-state students. These rankings affirm our commitment to serving North Carolina while maintaining the academic excellence expected of the nation’s first public university.”

Additionally, Carolina ranked fifth among public institutions for veterans and tied for 12th overall, demonstrating its support for veterans, military-connected students and their families as they pursue their educational and professional goals. Carolina’s military-affiliated programs include UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School’s online executive development courses and MBA program, the School of Medicine’s physician assistant degree program and the School of Nursing’s Military Pathway program that helps service members earn a nursing degree. Carolina supports students from military families through the Vetter Military Family Scholarship.

The 2027 edition of the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings evaluates more than 1,700 U.S. colleges and universities, using up to 17 factors to measure academic quality and graduate success. Carolina ranked as the No. 5 public, and tied for 27th overall among all colleges, public and private.

Additional 2027 Best Colleges rankings for UNC-Chapel Hill include:

• Tied for No. 16 most innovative public school, tied for No. 34 overall
• Tied for No. 3 public undergraduate business program, tied for No. 6 overall
• Tied for No. 4 public Bachelor of Science in nursing, tied for No. 6 overall
• Tied for No. 6 public psychology program, tied for No. 12 overall

UNC-Chapel Hill offers a range of programs to make a Carolina education more affordable, including the Carolina Covenant, which has helped nearly 10,000 low-income students graduate debt-free since 2004, as well as the Kessler Scholars, Blue Sky Scholarships and Tar Heel Guarantee. Together, these programs expand access for students from low- and middle-income families, first-generation students and students from across North Carolina. These efforts contribute to strong outcomes, with 75% of Carolina undergraduates graduating without student loan debt and graduates seeing an average return on investment of approximately $500,000 over their careers.

Please note: Not all programs are ranked by U.S. News & World Report every year. For a complete list of rankings for UNC-Chapel Hill, visit the U.S. News & World Report website.