Valparaiso University Named a 2014 Best Private College by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

Ranking Based on Academic Quality and Affordability

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance has recognized Valparaiso University as one of the top 100 private colleges in the nation for best value. Earlier this year, Valpo was also honored by US. News & World Report as the No. 2 Best Value in the Midwest.

This ranking distinguishes Valpo as a University that provides high-quality academics at a reasonable cost during these continued tough economic times. The colleges ranked by Kiplinger exemplify the attributes parents and students look for in higher education, including small class sizes, a good freshman retention rate and a high four-year graduation rate. Many of the schools on the list, including Valpo, have appeared in Kiplinger’s rankings in previous years, demonstrating that these schools consistently deliver good value.

Each year, 94 percent of undergraduate students at Valpo receive financial assistance through scholarships, awards, loans and other sources. In total, Valpo annually awards more than $80 million to undergraduate students.

The top 50 colleges and top 50 universities appear in Kiplinger’s December issue, on newsstands Nov. 5. The full list is available online at www.kiplinger.com/links/college.

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 cost side, Kiplinger’s measures the sticker price, the availability and average amount of need-based and merit-based financial aid and the average student debt at graduation.