To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

WINSTON-SALEM — For the second year in a row, Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine has ranked UNC School of the Arts among the nation's 100 best values in public four-year colleges.

The school took 48th place for in-state value and 56th place for out-of-state value.

Kiplinger's ranked the colleges based on academic quality, cost and financial aid, with academic quality accounting for nearly two-thirds of a school's score. In judging academic quality, Kiplinger's looked at SAT or ACT scores, admission and retention rates and four- and six-year graduation rates. UNC School of the Arts made the list for the first time last year at number 61.

"Just the fact that they're seeing us as getting more excellent proves the point that we're taking this really very seriously,” said Chancellor John Mauceri. “We're grateful for the vision and the generosity of the people of this state, but that we give back. We give back with excellence."

The School of the Arts earned top honors in the student-faculty category with a ratio of 8-1. Mauceri said that was key to providing a quality education.

"That fundamental way of teaching shows that the learning outcomes are very, very high because we take care with each of our students,” said Mauceri. “We know them by first name."

At $26,616, School of the Arts ranked 91st in average debt at graduation. Grad student Heather Coley said the education there was worth every penny.

"We're working with some of the best people in the industry and they're current working artists and I don't think there's anywhere else that you can get that experience for the price that you pay here," said Coley.

Student Leo Hurley said if he had to do it all over again, he'd choose UNC School of the Arts.

"I can't wait to get out in the world and do the things that this school has done for me for other people,” said Hurley. “Words cannot express how much this school has meant to me."

When looking at in-state value, five other North Carolina Schools made Kiplinger's list. UNC Chapel Hill topped the list. NC State in Raleigh ranked at 15; UNC Wilmington came in at 27; Appalachian State University was 35, and UNC Asheville, 58.