Kiplinger’s ranks W&M among top values in public colleges
William & Mary is one of the best values among U.S. colleges and universities, according to a report released by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance today.
On the magazine’s list of 100 top values in public colleges, William & Mary is ranked fifth for out-of-state students and seventh for in-state students. Last year, William & Mary was ranked fourth for in-state students and sixth for out-of-state students.
The magazine bases its rankings on several measures, including admission rate, percentage of students who return for sophomore year, student-faculty ratio and four-year graduation rate. Cost criteria include sticker prices, financial aid and average debt at graduation.
“We salute this year’s top schools,” says Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. “Balancing top-quality education with affordable cost is a challenge for families in today’s economy, which is why Kiplinger’s rankings are such a valuable resource. The schools on the 2015 list offer students the best of both worlds.”
Among private colleges and universities, Princeton University is ranked number one, followed by Yale and Harvard. For the first time this year, Kiplinger’s also published a combined ranking, with both private and public schools. On that list, William & Mary is 62nd.
The complete rankings, including the top schools overall as well as the best values in public schools, private universities and private liberal arts colleges, are available online at kiplinger.com/links/college. The rankings will also appear in the February 2015 issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, on newsstands Jan. 6.
Earlier this year, William & Mary was also named as one of the top values in public colleges by the Princeton Review. In that report, released Jan. 28, the university was ranked eighth in the nation.