Methodology: Best Values
These rankings were based on three variables:
1. Ratio of quality to price: A school's overall score in the America's Best Colleges 2010 rankings was divided by the 2008-2009 academic year net cost to a student receiving the average need-based scholarship or grant. The higher the ratio of a school's America's Best Colleges 2010 edition rank to the discounted total cost less the average 2008-2009 academic year need-based scholarship or grant, the better the value. Total cost equals the sum of 2008-2009 academic year tuition, room and board, fees, books, and other expenses, including transportation.
2. Percentage of all undergraduates receiving need-based scholarships or grants during the 2008-2009 academic year.
3. Average discount: percentage of a school's 2008-2009 total costs (tuition, room and board, fees, books, and other expenses) covered by the 2008-2009 academic year average need-based scholarship or grant to undergraduates.
Note: In the case of public institutions, 2008-2009 out-of-state tuition and percentage of out-of-state students receiving need-based scholarship or grants were used in all calculations.
Only those schools ranked in, or near, the top half of their America's Best Colleges 2010 edition ranking categories were considered. The schools' overall Best Values ranks were determined by first standardizing the scores achieved by every school in each of the three above variables and then weighting those scores. The ratio of quality to price accounted for 60 percent of the overall score; the percentage of all undergraduates receiving need-based grants accounted for 25 percent; and the average discount accounted for 15 percent. The school with the highest total weighted points became No. 1 in its category. The other schools were then ranked in descending order. Schools with the same rank are tied.
Reader Comments
Real Value
The real value of any college education is what a student makes of it once he/she graduates. I have infinitely more respect for a student who works his way through a public college or university as opposed to a student born with a silver spoon in his mouth who slides through an Ivy League school on the basis of parental influence and grade inflation. Berea College in Kentucky is another institution where students work their way through school.
You're forgetting one, at least!
You forget that there is at least one Bacc College that doesn't charge a DIME and is respected as one of the top schools in the nation and the world for academic excellence, as well as everything else that makes a school great. College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, MO (near Branson) is a top school, and students don't have to pay a dime for it. It is all "paid for" by the students working for it in and around campus - which is a very good way for a young person to get REAL world experience if you ask me. THAT'S what I call value. If this is not listed as a true value, what good is your list, other than to make the "rich" kid schools look good? It's a joke.
Best Value is a Joke
Are you kidding me? All of the "Best Value" schools are the most expensive in the country. That's like saying a Ferrari is the best value car. The flaw lies in putting "best value" weight on the school's quality ranking, when the quality ranking itself is flawed.
How about taking into account the financial aid given as a percentage of each school's total endowment? Even if Harvard gave a full ride to every undergraduate, it would be $350 million (7,000 students @ $50k each). That's just under 1% of their endowment $37 billion. According to US News methodology, a school simply being wealthy makes it a good value.
The Ivy League schools have built their reputation by rich people paying for the education of smart people to make their dumb rich kids look smarter.
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