UNC - Chapel Hill

Pinnacle of Excellence

Carolina ranks fifth among national public universities for the 20th consecutive year.

The Old Well in the fall.

Carolina ranks fifth among national public universities for the 20th consecutive year.

As the nation’s first public university, Carolina has always stood out as the pinnacle of excellence in higher education.

Year after year, Carolina earns top rankings among public universities across the United States — this year is no different. The U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 Best Colleges rankings recently named Carolina fifth on their list of top public schools among national universities. This ranking serves as an affirmation of the value that Carolina provides to not only its students, but to North Carolina as a whole. The rankings also placed Carolina atop their best value schools list among public national universities.

“Carolina strives every day to serve the people of our state, the nation and the world through excellence in teaching, research and service,” said Carolina Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz. “Our passion and dedication to this effort has earned Carolina a top-five ranking among public universities for the 20th consecutive year. Remaining accessible and affordable to all is fundamental to our mission, and we are honored with the distinction of ‘best value’ among public universities.”

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