Third consecutive Best Value ranking for CCU by U.S. News & World Report
The Best Value Schools category calculation takes into account the school's academic quality and net cost of attendance. This is the third consecutive year CCU has been ranked No. 2 on this list.
"This consistent ranking just proves what most of us here at Coastal Carolina University already know," said David A. DeCenzo, president of the University, "that a degree from this institution is valuable. We are dedicated to providing our students an academic experience of the highest quality at a reasonable cost, and strides we have taken to achieve this goal are starting to take hold and attract national attention."
Of the 59 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 (3rd), Anderson University (32nd), Winthrop University (45th) and the College of Charleston (54th). Coastal has earned high rankings in the Best Value category consistently for the past eight years.
Coastal Carolina was also ranked on the following lists:
- No. 41 in Regional Universities South
- No. 25 in Best Colleges for Veterans
- No. 17 in Top Public Schools
- No. 19 in Most Innovative Schools
- No. 10 in Best Undergraduate Teaching
- No. 73 in Top Performers on Social Mobility
CCU was ranked on the Most Innovative Schools list for the first time last year and maintains a top 20 ranking for 2020. 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.
It is the first time the University has been named to the Best Undergraduate Teaching category, which is the result of a spring 2019 survey by U.S. News, which solicited input from top college administrators on which colleges put a particular focus on undergraduate teaching.
"As a comprehensive institution, we are proud of our accomplishments in outreach and service, but the heart of our mission remains teaching, and this recognition is consistent with that focus," said Dan Ennis, interim provost and vice president of academic affairs.
CCU also made a jump in the Regional Universities South ranking, last year coming in at No. 52. "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.
The No. 41 ranking is the highest for CCU since 2014, which is the year CCU moved to the Regional University category from the National Liberal Arts Category.
Coastal Carolina has a total enrollment of more than 10,500 students, and offers baccalaureate degrees in 74 major fields of study. Among CCU's graduate-level programs are 26 master's degrees, two educational specialist degrees, and two doctoral programs: the Ph.D. in marine science: coastal and marine systems science, and the Ph.D. in education.
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