When you send your kids to college, you want them to be safe. According to at least one major publication, this university campus is the safest in North Carolina.
Gardner-Webb University in Cleveland County ranked first in campus safety among 26 public and private institutions in the state. Using a New York Times interactive tool, colleges and universities were ranked in order to help families make informed educational decisions. Gardner-Webb was the safest university in North Carolina, but also performed well nationally. It was tenth for safety among 110 schools in the South and in the top five percent of safest schools nationally.
“Those of us who live, work, and study here know just how dedicated our safety personnel are to freeing GWU from the concerns that so many other campuses have,” Gardner-Webb president Dr. William M. Downs said in a statement. “We are grateful each day for our University Police, for our public partners in and around the Town of Boiling Springs, and to everyone who deploys both vigilance and common sense to keep our community safe.”
Downs went on to say that the school will strive to maintain its attention to safety, noting that it makes the school that much more attractive to prospective students and families.
US News Best Colleges Rankings, Here's How North Carolina Universities Scored
Looking at colleges can be overwhelming. I was lucky enough to know exactly where I wanted to go to school from a young age and was able to make that dream a reality. But many students don’t know where they want to go or perhaps don’t have the grades to get into their dream school. There are so many colleges across not only North Carolina, but the region, and nationally. Especially if you don’t have a specific major in mind how do you even begin to narrow down your choices? One trusted source many high school students use is the US News and World Report Best Colleges rankings. The 2024 Best Colleges Rankings were just released, including 16 North Carolina universities in the national rankings.
This is undeniably just one of numerous things that should be considered when making the decision on where to study. Some students prefer a smaller institution, while others want a large college experience. Location plays a big part in the decision as well and of course affordability or availability of scholarships. The best colleges in North Carolina included on the US News list span the entire state of NC. Some are in small towns, others in the state’s largest cities. Some are state schools which means cheaper tuition for in-state students. There are several private schools (complete with a higher price tag) included on the list as well.
The four highest-ranked schools all made the top 100 nationally. Two are private and two are public. All four are members of the ACC. Which ones ranked where? You’ll have to keep reading to find out. Below you’ll find information including enrollment and tuition for each NC school included on the US News rankings. Interested in another school or the full list? You can read that here.
