Straight Eight: Once again, Kiplinger’s Ranks Pitt Best Value in Public Higher Education in Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH--For the eighth consecutive time, the University of Pittsburgh ranks as the top value in Pennsylvania in The Kiplinger 100: Best Values in Public Colleges. The 2012-13 nationwide ranking of four-year schools that combine outstanding education with economic value has been published in the February 2013 issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, currently available on newsstands.

Kiplinger’s also ranks Pitt as the nation’s 17th-best value for out-of-state students and the country’s 38th-best value for in-state students. In the best value for in-state students ranking, the only other Pennsylvania public research university listed in the top 100 is Penn State, at No. 48. The rankings can be accessed online at www.kiplinger.com/links/college.

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.

“We applaud this year’s top 100 schools for their efforts to maintain academic standards while meeting the financial needs of their students,” said Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.