The University of North Carolina at Pembroke is a top 20 public university in the South and ranks in the top 10 in the region for social mobility, according to the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges Rankings released today.
Among regional universities, UNC Pembroke ranked 18th for public universities and 41st overall within regional universities in the South. UNCP also ranked 18th in Best Colleges for Veterans and debuted at number 39 for Best Value Schools within the region — a rank U.S. News identifies by assessing a university’s academic quality and price, as well as the percentage of need-based scholarships and grants the university offers to offset total cost. The higher the quality and the lower the actual cost, the greater the value to a student.
“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,” said Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings, MD. “Our continued rise reflects the dedication of faculty, staff and university leadership who work together to fulfill our mission and make a lasting impact on our communities, region and beyond.”
Each year, U.S. News evaluates nearly 1,500 national colleges and universities on 17 measures of academic quality, including graduate/retention rates, peer assessments and financial resources for students. UNCP is considered a regional university and is ranked in the South region, which consists of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky.
Board of Trustees member Jim Hyler said UNCP’s inclusion in the region’s top 20 public list highlights the university’s ongoing efforts to foster an environment of academic excellence at a significant value.
“UNCP has a long-standing reputation as an institution dedicated to advancing the lives of its graduates and demonstrating the transformational power of education,” Hyler said. “The rankings are reflective of the success that comes with UNCP’s small class sizes, personalized attention and academic rigor, which helps students achieve their educational and career goals.”
Another point of pride for university leadership is an eight-place leap in rank to No. 8 in the Social Mobility category, which places UNCP in the top 10 in the region for enrolling and, importantly, successfully graduating students from economically challenged backgrounds.
Chair of the UNCP Board of Trustees Ed Brooks said the university’s strong ranking in social mobility speaks to a demonstrated commitment to changing the lives of students –– many of whom are the first in their families to go to college. Brooks added that the U.S. News distinction is further evidence of ‘community buy-in,’ illustrated most recently by the “No Brave Left Behind” fundraising campaign that raised more than $200,000 to support students in jeopardy of being dropped from classes due to financial hardships.
“This report only highlights what we’ve known for years, which is that UNC Pembroke provides a quality education and empowers our graduates to impact the local, regional and state economies in meaningful ways,” Brooks said. “We are changing lives and communities with the education we provide.”
UNCP also earned top U.S. News recognition for its undergraduate business, computer science and psychology programs. The university’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program jumped a significant 46 spots from the previous academic year to No. 182, moving the program into the top 200 of the nation’s 686 undergraduate nursing programs.
The nursing program accolade comes as the McKenzie-Elliott School of Nursing marks a 100% pass rate last year and a 98% pass rate this year on the national licensure exam –– exceeding the national average of 92.7% for first-time exam takers. The school is also accepting applications to the second cohort for its new Doctor of Nursing Practice program.
“The rise in our nursing program ranking reflects a focus on excellence in teaching and the dedication of our faculty, staff and leadership to advancing the education of highly qualified nurses who are prepared to care for patients in their communities,” said Diane Prusank, PhD, provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs. “We have much to be proud of — especially our students — as well as our faculty and staff's commitment to the excellence of a UNC Pembroke education."
Kellie Blue, UNC Board of Governors vice chair and a UNCP alumna, said the mission of UNC System institutions is to provide access to quality higher education opportunities, and UNCP is clearly delivering on that mission.
“The commitment UNC Pembroke demonstrates to the education of its students is what makes the university exceptional,” Blue said. “These rankings further underscore UNCP’s ability to evolve and grow to fit the needs of students and provide them a stellar return on their investment.”
