A Winning Formula

Although the economy reshuffled the Best Value Colleges list, NC State continued its winning ways, ranking ninth among public universities on the Princeton Review/USA Today ratings released Aug. 1.

“Despite recent tuition increases, NC State continues to be a bargain for North Carolina residents,” the rating site said.

NC State made the top 10 based on more than 30 factors related to academic quality and affordability. The publications examined data from more than 650 universities.

Academic factors included student admissions credentials and student ratings of academic experiences. The cost of attendance was based on the in-state tuition rate, room and board expenses, and required fees. A financial aid analysis factored in average grant and scholarship awards, the percentage of graduating students who took out loans to pay for school and their average debt, and student survey data about satisfaction with financial aid.

The online summary of the university’s strengths highlighted research opportunities for students, noting that NC State ranks fourth in the nation for research funding among universities without a medical school. Another plus was having one of the nation’s largest co-op programs with more than 1,000 work rotations annually.

Repeat Appearances

NC State regularly appears on best value lists compiled by a variety of publications, including Princeton Review, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and U.S. News & World Report.

To learn more about how we measure up, read the list of recent rankings.