Kiplinger’s Personal Finance ranks UW-Madison a top value

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine has ranked the University of Wisconsin–Madison No. 14 in a national ranking of the best values among public universities.

UW-Madison leads all Big Ten public universities in the rankings, with the next closest being the University of Michigan, which was ranked No. 19 in the magazine’s survey.

“These rankings link quality and affordability, key characteristics that the university has worked hard to preserve and improve through some difficult economic times,” says Provost Paul M. DeLuca Jr. “We have maintained exceptional quality while staying accessible to students and their families.”

Kiplinger’s bases its rankings — which are detailed in the magazine’s February edition — on academic measures as well as on costs. It uses ACT or SAT test scores, admission and retention rates, student-faculty ratios and four- and six-year graduation rates. The magazine also ranks schools on affordability, looking at total expenses and financial aid.

The magazine reviews data from more than 500 public four-year colleges and universities in determining the rankings.

According to Kiplinger’s editor Janet Bodnar, the top 100 schools in the survey “continue to deliver strong academics at reasonable prices.”

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was deemed the nation’s top value among publics. Two other University of Wisconsin System campuses are ranked in the top 100: UW-La Crosse at No. 43 and UW-Eau Claire at No. 67.

The rankings can be found at http://www.kiplinger.com/reports/best-college-values/