Kiplinger's Personal Finance names UD a best value

9:19 a.m., Dec. 11, 2013--Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine's newest list of the 100 best values in public colleges once again includes the University of Delaware.

The ranking highlights “four-year institutions that combine outstanding education with economic value.”

Campus Stories

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Kiplinger’s said UD placed in the top 100 “thanks to its high four-year graduation rate, low average student debt at graduation, abundant financial aid, a low sticker price, and overall great value.”

UD is ranked 32nd among public colleges and universities for in-state students and 30th for out-of-state students, and has consistently been included in the top 100.

The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, was ranked the best value among public institutions, followed by the University of Virginia, the University of Florida, the College of William and Mary and the University of California, Los Angeles.

The magazine announced the list in its February 2014 issue, which will be on newsstands beginning Dec. 31. The list is available online now.

Kiplinger’s assesses quality according to a number of measurable standards, including the admission rate, the percentage of students who return for sophomore year, the student-faculty ratio and the four-year graduation rate. 

Cost criteria include low sticker prices, abundant financial aid and low average debt at graduation.

 “The college landscape today is very different — tuition increases and student debt dominate the national conversation surrounding higher education,” said Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. “This year’s top 100 schools have made admirable strides to maintain academic integrity and standards while meeting the financial needs of their students.”

For the full rankings on the Kiplinger's website, click here.