U.S. News places Wingate among ‘best values’ in the South

Wingate University has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a "best value" among regional universities in the South, clocking in at No. 22.

Wingate's net price for the 2025-26 academic year was $21,564, which puts it on par with some schools in the University of North Carolina system.

"These rankings meaningfully affirm the work happening every day across Wingate University, and what matters most is the impact behind the numbers," says Dr. Rhett Brown, president of Wingate University. "I believe Wingate is North Carolina's most consequential university, and that means striving endlessly to be relentlessly relevant to our region - educating and preparing students for lives of purpose while developing the talent our communities and employers need in order to thrive. Recognition for our value and quality is something we are proud of, but our greatest measure of success will always be the difference our graduates make in the communities they serve."

In recent years, other organizations have recognized Wingate for its value, especially to low-income students. In 2025, Wingate ranked No. 5 among all universities for return on investment for low-income students, behind only the big four of Duke, UNC Chapel Hill, Wake Forest and N.C. State. In 2024, the higher education research firm Third Way placed the University in the highest grouping (tier 1) in its Economic Mobility Index, which factors in the percentage of low-income students and the number of years it takes to recoup the cost of attendance. Wingate was the only private university from North Carolina in tier 1.

Wingate was also recognized by U.S. News this year as a top private school in the South (No. 31).

Sept. 21, 2026