Butler University has made Kiplinger Personal Finance’s list of the best values in private colleges for 2014.
The list, which includes 100 private universities from across the country, can be found on Kiplinger.com. It also will appear in the December issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine, which hits newsstands on Nov. 5.
Butler ranked 61st overall—second in Indiana behind the University of Notre Dame.
Butler and the other schools included in the 2014 rankings represent colleges that provide high-quality academics at a reasonable cost during these continued tough economic times. The colleges exemplify the attributes parents and students look for in higher education, including small class sizes, a good freshman retention rate, and a strong four-year graduation rate.
“Butler is committed to providing a strong return on the investment that students—and their families—make in their education,” Butler President James M. Danko said. “Our inclusion on the Kiplinger list of best value private colleges validates that commitment, and recognizes the University’s efforts to become an innovative leader in creating transformative, student-centered learning experiences that prepare our graduates to make a lasting and positive impact in the world.”
Kiplinger’s rankings measure academic quality and affordability. Academic criteria include the student admission rate (the number of students accepted out of those who apply), the test scores of incoming freshmen, the ratio of students to faculty members, and the four- and five-year graduation rates. On the value side, Kiplinger’s measures total cost of attendance, the availability and average amount of need-based and merit-based financial aid, and the average student debt at graduation.
This is the fifth time Butler has appeared in the Kiplinger rankings. In recent years, the University was No. 66 (in 2010), No. 84 (2011), and No. 73 (2012).
