UNC Pembroke among nation’s top public regional institutions in new ranking

PEMBROKE, N.C. (WBTW) — The University of North Carolina at Pembroke sits near the top of U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges rankings, the school announced on Tuesday.

In addition to being a top 20 public university in the South and among the top 10 for social mobility, it debuted at 39 for best value schools within the region. It’s also 18th in best colleges for veterans.

“Since its founding, UNCP has been committed to providing access, opportunity and an exceptional education, and I’m proud to see our efforts recognized in these rankings,” Chancellor Gary Cummings said in a statement.

U.S. News and World Report evaluates 1,500 national colleges and universities on 17 measures of academic quality. The South region comprises Alabama, the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

UNCP Trustee Jim Hyler said its inclusion as one of the region’s best highlights the school’s ongoing efforts at creating an environment of academic excellence at a reasonable cost.

“UNCP has a long-standing reputation as an institution dedicated to advancing the lives of its graduates and demonstrating the transformational power of education,” he said.

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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12 . See more of his work here .

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