UNC Charlotte Great Bang for the Buck

Nestled into an area that has grown up around the University, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, or UNC Charlotte is the fourth largest member of the sixteen UNC campuses. UNC Charlotte has a beautifully landscaped campus, and a multitude of programs.

Sitting on a 1,000 acre campus, the 21,000 student school is perhaps the city's best kept secret. The best part about the school might just be the campus itself. With lush gardens housing hybrid plants and manmade waterfalls, rolling hills, and all brick sidewalks, it could be one of the best looking state supported universities in the country. Everywhere you turn is a comfortable park bench and lush greenery to make the landscape.

At the center of campus is a large bell tower, named after the Belk Family. This large towe can be seen from the school's main entrance, and serves as a focal point on campus for events, gatherings, protests, and anyone trying to get noticed. Moving away from the center of campus you are surrounded by academic buildings for all of the schools 80+ undergraduate programs, as well as its Masters and Doctoral schools. Some of the older buildings are a bit homely, from when the institution was small and funding was weak, but the new buildings on campus are very large, state of the art facilities. 
   
The addition of several new buildings over the last three years has brought the school towards fulfilling its goal of being a research-intensive university. Academics only make up a portion of a decision for most college bound students though, so of course living accomadations are of great interest as well.