Rising one spot from last year, the University was ranked the third best in-state value in public colleges in 2008, according to Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. The magazine's ranking also placed the University seventh for best out-of-state value.
Rankings are based on a combination of educational quality and cost of tuition, with an emphasis on academic strength, according to the magazine's Web site. The magazine's analysis suggested low tuition rates, an ability to meet 100 percent of students' financial needs and impressive SAT scores have allowed the University to maintain a high ranking.
Student Financial Services Director Yvonne Hubbard attributed this year's higher ranking to Access U.Va., high graduation rates and an excellent student-to-staff ratio.
Hubbard stressed that while the high rank is an honor, "the ranking itself isn't that important -- it is the data" that matter.
Second-year College student Gregg Cothran said he has noticed and appreciated the University's value, adding how this was important when he was looking at colleges as a senior in high school.
"Price was a big thing -- reputation, location, the college visit," Cothran said. "U.Va. had the best of all those. This is a really good deal and there are a lot of schools that are charging some $40,000 a year."
Cothran, a Virginia resident, considered attending schools he described as "pricey," such as Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech and Washington & Lee. He said his parents were pleased when he decided to take advantage of the in-state tuition and the experience the University offers.
Hubbard said she believes this study is a great "conversation starter" for families such as the Cothrans who are evaluating and comparing the costs of different schools.
"Unfortunately, cost is a factor [when choosing a university]," Hubbard said, adding that the University "is committed being a great institution that is affordable to students."
Six other Virginia colleges ranked in the top 100 list including William & Mary as No. 4 and Virginia Tech as No. 17.
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