UNC Charlotte made huge leaps in multiple rankings in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges report, which was released on Tuesday.
UNC Charlotte is now ranked at No. 81 (tie) among U.S. public universities, a 15-spot increase, according to a press release from the university. The university has made major leaps in ranking, boasting its highest national ranking at No. 152 (tie) among 434 public and private national universities, a 26-spot increase.
Charlotte’s first-year retention, six-year graduation rate, reduction of graduation debt and growing research are key indicators that reflect major growth in the report, the university said.
“At UNC Charlotte, we are setting records as we move toward becoming the nation’s next preeminent public research university. With record enrollment this fall, record graduation and retention rates and record research opportunities, there’s an unstoppable momentum at Charlotte. Our rise in the rankings reflects the dedication of our faculty and staff, who are deeply committed to transforming the lives of our students,” Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber said in the release.
Ranked No. 45 in the U.S. News & World Report’s Most Innovative Schools, UNC Charlotte is the only public university from North Carolina on that list. The metric recognizes universities for their innovative practices and strategies, the release said.
Over the past decade, research expenditures at the university have increased 272%, including Ignite for Centers, the largest expansion of a research grant program in university history, the university said.
The university continues to be a “national leader in social mobility, rising ten spots to No. 62 (tie).” This metric shows Charlotte’s dedication to supporting students eligible for the Pell Grant, the release said.
Charlotte is No. 157 in Best Value Colleges, illustrating the affordability of students receiving financial aid, No. 106 (tie) for Best Colleges for Veterans and No. 7 in the nation for its online bachelor’s program.
Charlotte’s bachelor of science in nursing undergraduate program received its highest ranking at No. 54, the university said. This past December, Charlotte BSN graduates had a 100% pass rate on the license exam.
The U.S. News & World Report rankings are one of the most trusted in higher education. The data is from more than “1,500 colleges and universities across 17 measures of academic quality, with a heightened emphasis on social mobility and graduation outcomes,” the release said.