For the third consecutive year, Coastal Carolina University has been named one of “America’s 100 Best College Buys.” More than 1,060 colleges and universities were surveyed for the designation, which is presented annually by Institutional Research & Evaluation Inc.

To be considered for the award, colleges and universities must be accredited, four-year institutions granting bachelor’s degrees and meet the following criteria:

• offer full residential facilities including dining services

• report a high school grade point average (GPA) and/or SAT or ACT score for entering freshmen that is equal to or above the national average

• have an out-of-state cost of attendance that does not exceed the national average cost attendance by more than 10 percent

Recently, CCU also received a favorable ranking in the U.S. News and World Report’s annual survey and was included in the “America’s Best Colleges” survey conducted annually by Forbes and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity.

“Coastal Carolina University’s inclusion in multiple national rankings year after year is an indication of the solid reputation the institution has earned,” said CCU President David A. DeCenzo. “It reaffirms the fact that Coastal Carolina University students receive a top quality education at a reasonable cost — that, by any measure, is value-added.”

Institutional Research & Evaluation Inc. is an independent research and consulting organization that specializes in the recruitment and retention of students for institutions of higher education. The firm annually identifies the American colleges and universities that provide students with the best opportunities in higher education. The “America’s 100 Best College Buys” survey has been conducted for 20 years.