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Jan. 3, 2012/For Immediate Release Media Contact: Marla Carpenter, 336-770-3337, carpem@uncsa.edu UNCSA AGAIN NAMED TO KIPLINGER’S “BEST VALUES IN PUBLIC COLLEGES” *Ranked 41^st, Up From 48^th Last Year*
WINSTON-SALEM – For the third year in a row, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) has been named one of the top 100 Best Values in Public Colleges by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance for 2012. UNCSA climbed to 41^st this year, up from 48^th last year, and up from 61^st in 2010. The report features schools that deliver a quality education at an affordable price. UNCSA made the list thanks to its high four-year graduation rate, low average student debt at graduation, available financial aid, low sticker price, and overall great value, according to Kiplinger’s.
“Considering that the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, an arts conservatory, made Kiplinger’s list – which is based on a combination of academics and affordability – speaks volumes about our school,” said UNCSA Chancellor John Mauceri. “Seeing UNCSA – the smallest of the 16 UNC universities – continue to climb in the rankings is a true testament to the dedication, passion and tenacity of our faculty, staff and students.” Six University of North Carolina system schools ranked in Kiplinger’s top 50. In addition to UNCSA, they are: UNC-Chapel Hill, 1st; UNC-Wilmington, 15th; N.C. State, 19th; Appalachian State University, 33rd; and UNC-Asheville, 45th. “If this were about art, we absolutely would be number one,” Mauceri added. Recently, the Hollywood Reporter ranked UNCSA’s School of Filmmaking No. 2 among the top public film schools in the United States. Kiplinger’s assesses quality and affordability according to a number of measurable standards. This year, Kiplinger’s revamped the rankings to give more weight to academic value, such as the percentage of students who return for sophomore year and the four-year graduation rate. Cost criteria include low sticker prices, available financial aid and low average debt at graduation. While the criteria have shifted, the overall focus on value remains the same. Many schools, including UNCSA, have appeared on the list multiple times, a confirmation of the consistent value these colleges provide. The annual public school rankings appear in Kiplinger’s February 2012 issue — on newsstands today — and online at: www.kiplinger.com/links/college. Web visitors will find special interactive features including FAQs about the public colleges ranking, a slideshow of the top 10 schools, and data sortable by criteria such as state, tuition cost, average debt, student/faculty ratio, and admission rate. Additionally, Kiplinger’s top-200-ranked private colleges and universities of 2011-12 — announced in November 2011— are featured in a companion Best College Values report. About Kiplinger’s Personal Finance For nine decades, the Kiplinger organization has led the way in personal finance and business forecasting. Founded in 1920 by W.M. Kiplinger, the company developed one of the nation's first successful newsletters in modern times. The Kiplinger Letter, launched in 1923, remains the longest continuously published newsletter in the United States. In 1947, Kiplinger created the nation's first personal finance magazine. Kiplinger.com is the fastest growing website in the personal finance space. Located in the heart of our nation's capital, the Kiplinger editors remain dedicated to delivering sound, unbiased advice for families and businesses in clear, concise language. About the University of North Carolina School of the Arts The University of North Carolina School of the Arts is the first state-supported, residential school of its kind in the nation. Established as the North Carolina School of the Arts by the N.C. General Assembly in 1963, UNCSA opened in Winston-Salem (“The City of Arts and Innovation”) in 1965 and became part of the University of North Carolina system in 1972. More than 1,100 students from high school through graduate school train for careers in the arts in five professional schools: Dance, Design and Production (including a Visual Arts Program), Drama, Filmmaking, and Music. UNCSA is the state’s only public arts conservatory, dedicated entirely to the professional training of talented students in the performing, visual and moving image arts. For more information, visit www.uncsa.edu. ###
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Jan. 3, 2012/For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Marla Carpenter, 336-770-3337, carpem@uncsa.edu

UNCSA AGAIN NAMED TO KIPLINGER’S
“BEST VALUES IN PUBLIC COLLEGES”

Ranked 41^st, Up From 48^th Last Year

WINSTON-SALEM – For the third year in a row, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) has been named one of the top 100 Best Values in Public Colleges by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance for 2012.

UNCSA climbed to 41^st this year, up from 48^th last year, and up from 61^st in 2010.

The report features schools that deliver a quality education at an affordable price. UNCSA made the list thanks to its high four-year graduation rate, low average student debt at graduation, available financial aid, low sticker price, and overall great value, according to Kiplinger’s.

“Considering that the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, an arts conservatory, made Kiplinger’s list – which is based on a combination of academics and affordability – speaks volumes about our school,” said UNCSA Chancellor John Mauceri. “Seeing UNCSA – the smallest of the 16 UNC universities – continue to climb in the rankings is a true testament to the dedication, passion and tenacity of our faculty, staff and students.”

Six University of North Carolina system schools ranked in Kiplinger’s top 50. In addition to UNCSA, they are: UNC-Chapel Hill, 1st; UNC-Wilmington, 15th; N.C. State, 19th; Appalachian State University, 33rd; and UNC-Asheville, 45th.

“If this were about art, we absolutely would be number one,” Mauceri added.

Recently, the Hollywood Reporter ranked UNCSA’s School of Filmmaking No. 2 among the top public film schools in the United States.

Kiplinger’s assesses quality and affordability according to a number of measurable standards. This year, Kiplinger’s revamped the rankings to give more weight to academic value, such as the percentage of students who return for sophomore year and the four-year graduation rate. Cost criteria include low sticker prices, available financial aid and low average debt at graduation. While the criteria have shifted, the overall focus on value remains the same. Many schools, including UNCSA, have appeared on the list multiple times, a confirmation of the consistent value these colleges provide.

The annual public school rankings appear in Kiplinger’s February 2012 issue — on newsstands today — and online at: www.kiplinger.com/links/college. Web visitors will find special interactive features including FAQs about the public colleges ranking, a slideshow of the top 10 schools, and data sortable by criteria such as state, tuition cost, average debt, student/faculty ratio, and admission rate. Additionally, Kiplinger’s top-200-ranked private colleges and universities of 2011-12 — announced in November 2011— are featured in a companion Best College Values report.

About Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

For nine decades, the Kiplinger organization has led the way in personal finance and business forecasting. Founded in 1920 by W.M. Kiplinger, the company developed one of the nation's first successful newsletters in modern times. The Kiplinger Letter, launched in 1923, remains the longest continuously published newsletter in the United States. In 1947, Kiplinger created the nation's first personal finance magazine. Kiplinger.com is the fastest growing website in the personal finance space. Located in the heart of our nation's capital, the Kiplinger editors remain dedicated to delivering sound, unbiased advice for families and businesses in clear, concise language.

About the University of North Carolina School of the Arts

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts is the first state-supported, residential school of its kind in the nation. Established as the North Carolina School of the Arts by the N.C. General Assembly in 1963, UNCSA opened in Winston-Salem (“The City of Arts and Innovation”) in 1965 and became part of the University of North Carolina system in 1972. More than 1,100 students from high school through graduate school train for careers in the arts in five professional schools: Dance, Design and Production (including a Visual Arts Program), Drama, Filmmaking, and Music. UNCSA is the state’s only public arts conservatory, dedicated entirely to the professional training of talented students in the performing, visual and moving image arts. For more information, visit www.uncsa.edu.

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