According to the Forbes Magazine “America’s Best College Buys,” the University of North Carolina Wilmington ranked 17 on a national list of colleges and universities. The ranking is a significant jump for the school as in 2009, UNCW did not place in the top 100.

“It feels very good to receive that external recognition,” said Dana Fischetti, media relations manager at UNCW. “We have worked so hard. There is an intense feeling of gratification.”

Forbes compiles the list to determine the best colleges and universities based on academics and cost. The Forbes formula measures academic quality divided by cost to students.

“People are very interested in getting the most for their money,” Fischetti said. According to Forbes, college tuition has increased nationally by 91 percent over the rate of inflation over the past 20 years. Fischetti said that despite economic factors, the university has done everything possible to maintain and improve the quality of education for students.

The nation’s military academies, with no tuition costs to students, are ranked highest on the list. West Point came in at No. 1 followed by the Air Force Academy and the Naval Academy. The North Carolina university system is well represented on the list, with four schools in the top 25 and seven in the top 50. The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill ranked the highest in the state at 13.

For the complete list of America’s Best College Buys, please click here.