WNC schools make U.S. News college rankings

ASHEVILLE – Several Western North Carolina universities made U.S. News and World Report’s latest college rankings.

Appalachian State ranked third among top public regional universities in the South and 10th among top regional public and private universities in the South, according to a news release from the college.

Western Carolina University ranked 13th among top public regional universities in the South. WCU tied with two other schools at No. 32 on a list of the best regional universities in the South, according to a news release.

The annual rankings are based on a variety of indicators, including assessment by administrators at peer institutions, graduation rates, retention of students, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving.

Mars Hill University was ranked 36th among best regional colleges in the South in the latest rankings.

Warren Wilson College and UNC Asheville made the list of the 245 “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” for 2016.

Of the 245 liberal arts colleges listed in the rankings, there are 217 private, 27 public and one for-profit institution, according to U.S. News & World Report.

UNCA ranked eighth among the top public liberal arts colleges.

Mars Hill University President Dan Lunsford called the rankings “one important tool for students and parents to use in the college search process.”

“But, as always, the choice for students of their collegiate experience has to be personal: the best fit for the student in terms of academic offerings, social environment, location, and extracurricular activities,” Lunsford said in a release.

Phil Cauley, director of student recruitment and transitions at Western Carolina, encouraged potential students to visit the university.

“A great way to learn more about Western Carolina and to see if it is a good fit is to visit during Open House, which allows students to get a feel for the campus by taking a tour, talking with faculty and staff, and learning about academic programs, extracurricular activities, student support programs and financial aid,” Cauley said in a release.

WCU has four open house events scheduled for this academic year. The first one is Oct. 31, and others are scheduled for Nov. 14, Feb. 20 and March 12.