The University scored dozens of placements in annual media Best Colleges lists

GREENSBORO, N.C. (April 15, 2025) – U.S News & World Report released its annual Best Colleges list, awarding UNC Greensboro more than two dozen placements for its undergraduate, graduate, and online programs. The University also earned accolades from six other outlets that evaluate American institutions of higher education, in categories ranging from military-friendliness to free speech. 

Of note, both U.S. News & World Report and the Wall Street Journal named UNCG No. 1 in North Carolina in social mobility, reaffirming that UNCG is an effective place for students to achieve higher economic or social status through education. 

WALL STREET JOURNAL/COLLEGE PULSE RANKINGS 

The Wall Street Journal and College Pulse collaborate every year to name the Top 500 colleges and universities in the U.S. and then rank them on different attributes both nationally and by state. UNCG made the list again this year, and placed in the Top 10 in N.C. in several categories. 

• No. 1 in N.C. for Social Mobility  
• No. 2 in N.C. for Best Experience  
• No. 6 in NC for Best Value  

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT’S BEST COLLEGES RANKINGS 

Since 1983, U.S. News & World Report has published an annual Best Colleges list that has become the pre-eminent source for ranking the country’s colleges and universities. UNCG has featured prominently in both national and regional rankings. In 2025, UNCG earned high honors nationally and statewide for programs in both its graduate and undergraduate schools, as well as its online offerings. 

Undergraduate Programs – highlights (10 total listings) 

• For the second year in a row, UNCG was named the No. 1 school in N.C. for Social Mobility (No. 15 in the U.S) 
• UNCG was ranked as a Top 200 National University for the 35^th consecutive year (No. 8 in N.C.) 
• UNCG’s undergraduate nursing program was rated No. 4 in NC (54^th in the nation) 
• UNCG was ranked as a Top 5 Public School in N.C.

Graduate Programs – highlights (23 total listings) 

• UNCG’s graduate nursing school scored high marks for its Master’s Degree, No. 3 in N.C., and its Doctor of Nursing Practice program, which placed No. 4 in the state. Both programs cracked the Top 100 nationally. 
• The School of Education’s graduate program was recognized as a Top 100 program, 4^th in N.C., with high ranks for its Library and Information Studies program (No. 29 in the nation) and School Library Media (No. 10 in the nation). 

Online Programs – highlights (10 total listings) 

• Seven UNCG online programs ranked in the Top 100 in the nation, including Bachelor’s programs, Master’s in Information Technology, Master’s in Business Administration, and Master’s in Education 
• Online Master’s in Nursing was ranked No. 12 in the nation 
• Online Master’s in Special Education was ranked No. 14 in the nation 

OTHER POLLS AND RANKINGS 

• The Princeton Review named UNCG as one of the best U.S colleges for the 26^th consecutive year. They also named UNCG as a Top Green College, and put the school on its 2025 Mental Health Services Honor Roll. 
• Newsweek named UNCG as No. 4 in the U.S. in its Top Online Colleges list, and No. 1 in NC 
• Washington Monthly ranked UNCG No. 22 as Best Bang for the Buck in the Southeast 
• Military Times put UNCG at No. 3 in N.C. under Best Schools for Veterans 
• The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression listed UNCG at No. 4 in N.C., No. 22 nationally, in its Free Speech on Campus index. 

Story by Brian Clarey, University Communications 
Photos by University Communications