UW-Madison named one of nation’s best values in higher education

The University of Wisconsin–Madison was named one of the nation’s best values in higher education by the Princeton Review, ranking fifth among public colleges and universities.

The Princeton Review says the best value colleges for 2012 — a group of 150 colleges and universities — were identified because of their excellent academics, generous financial aid and/or relatively low cost of attendance.

“Offering a high-quality public education at an affordable price is one of the bedrock principles of UW–Madison,” says UW–Madison Provost Paul M. DeLuca Jr. “But even with the success of such efforts as the Madison Initiative for Undergraduates to deliver additional need-based aid, we will strive to make a UW–Madison education possible for all students.”

The Princeton Review used cost, academics and financial aid data from surveys of school administrators, as well as student assessments of professors and financial aid awards, to compile the list.

“We recommend these extraordinary colleges as our ‘best buys’ for 2012 and salute them for all they are doing to keep costs down and/or offer generous aid to applicants with financial need,” says Robert Franek of the Princeton Review.

The full list of best value institutions, which includes 75 public universities and colleges and 75 private schools, is available at the Princeton Review and USA Today and intended as a guide for students seeking the best value for their money.

The University of North-Carolina at Chapel Hill was named the nation’s best value among public colleges and universities, while Williams College was the top private college. UW-Eau Claire and Beloit College also made the list.

UW-Madison was the only Big Ten institution among the top 10 public universities.