Randolph College ranks among the nation’s “Best Value Colleges” for its relatively low cost and high academic quality, according to a list of 150 schools released Tuesday by The Princeton Review.
Of the 75 private schools profiled, Randolph and the University of Richmond were the only ones from Virginia.
For public schools, seven of Virginia’s colleges and universities made the cut, including two ranked in the top 10: University of Virginia (no. 2) and the College of William and Mary (no. 6).
This is Randolph’s first appearance on the list, which was originally compiled in 2004. Randolph stood out for its strong academics and generous financial aid packages, said David Soto, senior editor of the 2012 edition of the “Best Value Colleges” book.
“Randolph College is new to the list not only because we grew the list but because they’re a great value and certainly they offer great academics,” Soto said.
RC spokeswoman Brenda Edson said the college is “very excited” about the designation.
“This is significant because it recognizes that we make a really great education affordable,” she said.
The Princeton Review compiled the list based on 30 data points across three main categories: academics, cost of attendance and financial aid. Subjective measures, such as student surveys, also shaped the ranking.
Many schools on the list come with a high sticker price, tempered by generous financial aid offerings, Sotto said.
At Randolph, for example, tuition this year is $29,866 plus $10,385 for room and board. As the Princeton Review profile points out, approximately 99 percent of its students receive financial aid.
The top 150 schools are featured in “Best Value College: 2012 Edition” and online at www.bestvaluecolleges.usatoday.com.
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