University of North Carolina

While most of the best beach college options are located in either Florida or California, there are some hidden gems located further north on the Atlantic Coast. One of the best kept secrets is the University of North Carolina location that is on the beach. The main campus of the school is in Chapel Hill, but the branch in Wilmington North Carolina is slowly showing up on students’ radars as a potential place to study. The combination of interesting academic subjects and water sports are bringing this beach college into the spotlight.

One of the biggest attractions to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington is the low cost compared to other schools. While the $17,000 price tag may not seem cheaper than many Florida and California schools, the difference in expense is found in the cost of living in the region. Extracurricular activities, such as visiting a local watering hole or spending time on the beach will be much cheaper than more well known surfing locations. In addition, the possibility to rent large beach houses in the Outer Banks during the off season makes it possible for a group of students to enjoy a surfing vacation with only a small cost.

Another aspect of the Wilmington North Carolina campus that is steadily adding to the 11,000 plus students is the academic programs of study. The school has been listed as one of the best public universities for various fine arts. The film school is quite popular and many students find careers in the many film companies that are located in the area. Other liberal arts degrees that are common pursuits include creative writing and general art programs. On the science side of things, many students opt for the marine biology program at the University of North Carolina because of the amount of on hands training with the ocean so close.