For the second consecutive year, Coastal Carolina University is ranked second in the Best Value category for Southern regional universities in the U.S. News and World Report "Best College" annual rankings, released today. CCU also ranked 13th in the Most Innovative Schools category for Southern schools, the first time CCU has been included in this category.

Of the 66 Southern universities in the Best Value category, the No. 2 ranking places CCU ahead of other state institutions such as Converse College (8th), the Citadel (11th), Winthrop University (55th) and the College of Charleston (62nd). Coastal has earned high rankings in the Best Value category consistently for the past seven years.

The Best Value ranking is determined based on three variables: ratio of quality to price; percentage of undergraduates receiving needs-based scholarships or grants; and average discount, or the percentage of a school's total costs covered by the average need-based scholarship or grant to undergraduates. Only those schools ranked in the top half of their U.S. News ranking categories were considered for the Best Value designation.

For the first time, CCU was ranked in the report's Most Innovative Schools category, at No. 13. Inclusion in this category is based on nominations by college presidents, provosts and admissions deans, who were asked to nominate up to 15 colleges in their ranking categories that are making the most innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, students, campus life, technology or facilities.

"CCU's recognition in these two categories reflects a long-term institutional focus on providing the highest possible quality academic experience with finite resources," said CCU President David A. DeCenzo. "A high level of innovation is often required in order to offer unique programs that attract the best students in a climate of diminishing state support for higher education."

A few of the many instances of CCU's accomplishments in innovation include its leadership in establishing collaborative business incubation centers located in Conway, Georgetown and North Myrtle Beach; its unique and competitive multiple Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre programs; its student-driven university press publishing lab, the Athenaeum Press; a renowned science program that has made important contributions to the study and management of the coastal marine ecosystems; and its new Early Childhood Development and Literacy Center, which provides project-based learning that focuses on the developmental stages of children ages 3 to 5.

Also for the second consecutive year, CCU tied for 52nd in the Best Regional Universities (South) category. "Regional University" is defined as an institution that provides a full range of undergraduate and master's programs, but few doctoral programs. Institutions are ranked against their peer group in one of four geographic regions: North, South, Midwest and West.

CCU offers 73 undergraduate programs, 23 master's programs and two doctoral programs.