And in other news, the sun came up this morning.
For the 10th straight year, Kiplinger's Personal Finance has named UNC-Chapel Hill the best value among public colleges.
The top ranking can be found in the magazine's February 2011 issue, which is now available on newsstands and at www.kiplinger.com/tools/colleges.
Some parents may scoff at this particular ranking, given that tuition at Carolina and all public four-year universities jumped significantly last year thanks to a two-pronged tuition hike needed to help fill a state budget hole.
But Kiplinger says UNC-CH is still far ahead of the curve.
"Despite rising tuition costs, there are still many first-rate institutions providing outstanding academics at an affordable price," said Janet Bodnar, the magazine's editor, in a news release.
At UNC-CH, tuition and fees for an in-state undergrad runs about $6,665 this year, with the total cost of attendance, factoring room, board, books and other incidentals, is about $19,764.
Nationally, the average annual in-state sticker price of a public college is $16,140, according to Kiplinger.
The magazine specifically cites recent moves at UNC-CH to hire 120 junior faculty members, expand its honors program and create a new enrichment program for top freshmen, all while cutting $36 million in operating costs.
It's interesting that the junior faculty hires caught the magazine's eye, and points to the continued importance of private money at public universities.
Some of those hires were made possible by a $5 million private gift in March of last year from the William R. Kenan, Jr., Charitable Trust. That gift, coupled with a $500,000 anonymous gift for the same purpose, freed the university to hire 18 new junior faculty members.
In fact, even with tight budgets, universities across the region are still looking to add young faculty members. Given the nation's economic problems, universities that do have some money to spend are finding they have the pick of a talented crop of budding academicians.
Several other UNC system campuses make the list as well. N.C. State is 15th on the list, UNC-Wilmington is 27th, Appalachian State is 35th, UNC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem is 48th and UNC-Asheville is 58th.
The University of Florida is number 2 on the list.
Comments
Ah, I posted about what the
Tue, 01/04/2011 - 21:03 — JustShutUpAh, I posted about what the RAMS Club did. A private non-proft support organization of the University.
The losses by the Athletic Dept are mainly due to title 10 - woman's sports which don't generate enough revenue to be self supporting. UNC college sport wear is the number 1 in all college sports wear and generates the highest licensing fees annually of any college or university in the nation.
I still think you were just cut by a coach once and never got over it Dude...
Leave Igilii be ....
Tue, 01/04/2011 - 16:01 — AgentPierceIgilii has been beating his particular one-trick pony for as long as The N&O has allowed these reader comments. I would imagine he will continue to as long as he and/or the N&O draws breath. Everyone here has one or more axes to grind ..... right?
I actually share some of his over-the-top opnions on big time college sports and their over emphasis with so many. I may be a tad more realistic about this aspect of our culture but who's to say.
Rage on Igilii .... rage on.
Make a Donation to the Rams Club on behalf of Igliigli
Tue, 01/04/2011 - 15:30 — JustShutUpIn honor of Igliigli's unreasonable constant negative posts on coaches and sports teams at UNC; I'm making a donation to the RAMS club! It's tax deductable and I can fill out the form for matching grant from my employer. What does the sports and athletic branch bring to the table to help the university whether in capital improvement projects or scholarships - money and the majority isn't used for sports. Like the article said, private donations are what help UNC remain #1.
RAMS Club Totals for 2008-2009 (awaiting 2009-2010) annual report.
$23,785,000 total gifts and pledges
$11,000,000 Annual Fund (cash)
5,068,000 Scholarship Endowment
$5,241, 000 Capital Projects
$726,000 Sports Endowments
$1,750,000 Carolina Forever
The RAMS club
Tue, 01/04/2011 - 15:47 — igliigliAnd did you leave out how much the UNC Athletic Department spent deliberately?
And did you leave out how much the students are taxed to cover up the Athletic Department losses deliberately?
And did you leave out the yearly subsidy the Dean Dome receives from the State budget so it can stay open deliberately?
I could go on for hundreds of examples of why UNC sports are a taxpayer and student rip-off.
With a clarification in order ...
Tue, 01/04/2011 - 14:15 — nancyncSure, still affordable, just like various private schools and other universities are affordable, just depends on how much you can afford.
Increases in what was once a state system meant to be affordable for it's residents, it's slowly but surely kicking some of our citizens to the curb who can no longer afford the rate of increase.
UNC: Still affordable
Tue, 01/04/2011 - 13:34 — igliigliUNC could lower tuition and fees by firing all the coaches and sports teams.