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���ϲ����� has been named one of 75 “new dream schools” by New York Times best-selling author Jeffrey Selingo in his new book, “Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You.”

The recognition underscores ���ϲ�����’s strengths in accessibility, affordability, return on investment, better-than-expected student outcomes, high levels of engagement, strong job prospects and overall value.

“Within higher education circles, ���ϲ����� is known as a school that other midsized private universities want to learn from,” wrote Selingo, who has written about colleges and universities for more than two-and-a-half decades.

“Dream School” is a follow-up to Selingo’s 2020 book “Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions,” and focuses on helping families redefine their idea of a “good” college, setting aside preconceived ideas about “prestige.” To put together the list, Selingo partnered with several external experts and organizations to examine datasets from 2023 and 2024. The pool of consideration was narrowed down to four-year colleges with at least 1,000 undergraduates.

“For the Dream Schools list, I wanted to find institutions that outperform expectations while admitting the vast majority of good students who aren’t predestined for the Yales, Williamses, Northwesterns and UC Berekleys,” said Selingo.

For four consecutive years, ���ϲ����� has been named the nation’s best university for undergraduate teaching by U.S. News and World Report and has continued to invest in both the humanities and STEM programs, launching new degrees in neuroscience, nursing and digital content management. A new physician assistant studies program is set to launch in 2027 at the university’s Charlotte national campus location.

One outcome of ���ϲ�����’s teaching excellence is that the university has produced nine Goldwater Scholars – the most recent, engineering major Jacob Karty ’26, in 2025. The award is given by The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation and provides scholarships to college sophomores and juniors who intend to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering.

In his book, Selingo highlights ���ϲ�����’s commitment to mentorship, the , and the university being one of the top producers of Fulbright Scholars.

“All of my mentors at ���ϲ����� have challenged me in ways that have helped me grow into the person I am today,” said Cristy Mariné ’25, a Fulbright Scholar, following the announcement of her selection for the award. “For that, I am forever grateful.”

With a 77% graduation rate, ���ϲ����� is in the “Hidden Values” section of Selingo’s list, “comprised of mostly private colleges with strong graduation outcomes and opportunities for fulfilling careers.” Before graduation, all ���ϲ����� students are required to complete at least two of the ���ϲ����� Experiences: Global Engagement, Service, Leadership, Internships and Undergraduate Research.

“���ϲ����� operates a cooperative-education program that integrates work into the undergraduate curriculum, and as a result, some nine out of ten graduates complete at least one internship during their undergraduate career,” wrote Selingo.

Selingo also highlights the connection between ���ϲ�����’s residential living and academics, including the university’s residence hall neighborhoods that include faculty members in residence, along with more than a dozen Living Learning Communities, where groups of students live in the same residential area, interacting academically and socially with each other and with faculty, and sharing the same passion, interest, or academic focus.

“My hope in writing this book is that students, parents, and counselors might begin to think differently about the college search process so that teenagers ultimately find a school that will help them truly flourish,” Selingo said in an email to ���ϲ����� President Connie Ledoux Book about the new publication. “In the end, I want to give families, and parents in particular, permission to widen the lens on the college search.”

“Dream School” is at major booksellers through Simon and Schuster.