University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Carolina named top large university in the South

The University of Virginia and the University of Miami round out the top three spots in the large college category, which includes schools with more than 10,000 undergraduates.

The ranking also lists Carolina third among all public universities in the United States and 33rd among all public and private universities in the nation. This is the second year in a row that Carolina has maintained those positions in this college ranking.

The rankings are based on 15 factors across four main categories including resources, engagement, outcomes and environment. Carolina scored its highest marks for student outcomes, which looked at graduation rates, reputation, value added to graduate salary and debt after graduation.

In the fall, the U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 Best Colleges rankings listed Carolina fifth among public schools and first for best value schools among public universities in the United States, and the Times Higher Education listed Carolina 56th among universities worldwide.

“These rankings are a tribute to the faculty and staff who work every day to offer our students the uniquely Carolina programs that provide a high-quality experiential education that is accessible and affordable,” said Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz. “As the nation’s first public university, our mission is to serve the state, nation and world through excellence in teaching, research and service. In fulfilling that mission, we are equipping our students to become future leaders in all that they do.”