University Times

For the eighth consecutive time, Pitt ranked as the top value in Pennsylvania in The Kiplinger 100: Best Values in Public Colleges.

Overall, Pitt ranked as the country’s 38th-best value for in-state students and 17th-best value for out-of-state students. In the best value for in-state students ranking, the only other Pennsylvania public research university listed in the top 100 was Penn State, at No. 48.

Kiplinger’s assesses quality according to a number of standards, including the admission rate, the percentage of students who return for their sophomore year, the student-faculty ratio and the four-year graduation rate. Cost criteria include sticker prices, financial aid and average debt at graduation.

The 2012-13 nationwide ranking of four-year schools that combine outstanding education with economic value was published in the February issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. The rankings can be accessed online at www.kiplinger.com/links/college.