West Virginia University has been ranked No. 30 by Forbes as one of the nation’s top “Best Buy Colleges” in 2012.
College affordability has become a central issue for many American households and, as Forbes explains in its report, paying for a college education can be a daunting financial burden.
The ranking shows the commitment that WVU – and other schools on the list – makes to offer the highest quality education at the most affordable price. As a result, WVU attracts some of the best and brightest students from across the nation who go on to earn prestigious competitive national and international scholarships.
The Top 100 Best Buy Colleges were calculated by taking a university’s overall quality rank on Forbes’ list of America’s Top Colleges and dividing that number by the school’s tuition and fees. Forbes’ “quality rank” assesses each school in the areas of teaching, career prospects, graduation rates and the levels of debt graduates tend to amass.
“This designation reassures to us that the land-grant mission at WVU is in full force,” said WVU President Jim Clements. “As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Morrill Act, WVU is still providing an affordable, top-quality education that is accessible to students who qualify for admittance.
“This ranking reflects the dedication and expertise put forth by our faculty and staff, as well as the passion of our students and the successes of our alumni. This honor gives us yet another reason to be a proud Mountaineer family.”
Among land-grant universities on the list, WVU is ranked sixth.
WVU ranks ahead of neighboring schools such as: James Madison University (38), University of Virginia (39), University of Maryland (55), William & Mary (65), Virginia Tech (68), George Mason University (81), Ohio State University (83) and Old Dominion University (86). WVU is the highest rated among Big 12 schools.
Cori Lucotch, a journalism student from Pittsburgh, said she chose to attend WVU because it was more affordable than going to an in-state school in Pennsylvania.
“I get a top-notch education without the huge price tag,” Lucotch said. “I am still able to go to a high-profile university while still getting that small-school feel.”
Fairmont native Shae Snyder decided to stay in West Virginia by attending WVU.
“You can go to a nationally recognized college, get a great education in some of the top-ranked programs in the country and be pushed to exceed and chase your dreams by some of the greatest professors,” said Snyder, a senior public relations major. “You definitely get the best bang for your buck here at WVU.”
Even with modest increases in recent years, WVU continues to offer one of the most affordable educations in the country.
-WVU-
js/10/04/12
CONTACT: University Relations/News
304.293.6697
Follow @WVUToday on Twitter.