Purdue in Princeton Review’s Top 150 ‘Best Value’ Colleges

PurdueLogoPurdue University is listed among the Princeton Review's 150 "best value" colleges for 2013, released Tuesday (Feb. 5).

The education services and test-prep company says universities on the list, which appeared in USA Today, "offer the best bang for the buck."

The listing is based on an analysis from surveys conducted from fall 2011 through fall 2012. The top 10 public and private "best values" are ranked; the rest are listed alphabetically.

It is the second time this academic year that Purdue has been recognized for its good value. In August, SmartMoney magazine ranked Purdue eighth nationally in its college payback survey, which quantified the long-term value of a college degree.

"This is another indication that Purdue is a tremendous bargain," said Timothy D. Sands, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. "We offer a world-class education, at a reasonable price, that helps students compete successfully in the global marketplace."

Schools on the best value list were selected based on surveys of administrators and students at more than 650 public and private colleges and universities. Selection criteria included more than 30 factors in academics, costs and financial aid.

Tuition at Purdue for the 2012-13 academic year is $9,900 for in-state students and $28,702 for out-of-state students. The average SAT score for current freshmen is 1,749 on the critical reading, math and writing sections.

The Princeton Review summary says, in part, "Regardless of your major, 'Purdue prepares students to be leaders by helping them grow personally and professionally during their collegiate years through a combination of strong academic programs, leadership opportunities and social activities.'"

Other universities in the state included in the "best value" survey are DePauw University, Indiana University, the University of Notre Dame and Wabash College. In addition to Purdue and Indiana, other Big Ten universities ranked include the University of Illinois, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska, Northwestern University and University of Wisconsin.