Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine ranks University of Richmond No. 14 on its 2010 list of best values among private universities

November 4, 2009

University of Richmond has been named a best value in private higher education by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, ranking 14th on the 2010 list of top 50 private universities.
 
The December issue of the magazine, on newsstand Nov. 10,  lists the top 100 “private liberal arts colleges and universities that combine outstanding economic value with exceptional education.”
 
Richmond moved up from No. 17 in 2009 and was the only Virginia private university to make this year’s top 50. A separate list ranks the top 50 best values among private liberal arts colleges.
 
Kiplinger’s editor Janet Bodnar noted that the “top 100 private schools met the challenges of a slumping economy with brio. With so many private institutions offering generous financial aid packages, families are finding that private college is still affordable. In fact, the average tuition price can be as little as half or less of the sticker price—making them very competitive with public universities.”
 
Richmond remains among a small number of private universities practicing need-blind admissions and meeting 100 percent of demonstrated financial need. It also provides full tuition, room and board grants to Virginia students from families with incomes of $40,000 a year or less.
 
Kiplinger’s said its rankings measure academic quality and affordability, with quality accounting for two-thirds of the total. Factors included admission rate, SAT/ACT scores, students per faculty, graduation rate, total cost, cost after need-based aid, aid from grants, cost after non-need-based aid, non-need-based aid awarded, and average debt at graduation.
 
Earlier this year, Richmond ranked No. 30 on U.S. News and World Report’s best liberal arts colleges list, earning special note on the “Top Up and Coming Schools,” “Great Schools, Great Prices” and “Programs to Look For” lists. SmartMoney magazine and USA Today (in conjunction with The Princeton Review) cited the university as a top value in the nation for educational quality and commitment to affordability.

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