SUNY New Paltz has once again earned national recognition by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine by landing spots on both the 2014 lists of “30 Best College Values in the Mid- Atlantic” and “25 Best College Values Under $30,000 a Year.”
These lists, which highlight mostly public colleges in the nation, recognize institutions that combine both an outstanding education with great economic value, according to newspulse.newpaltz.edu.
New Paltz placed 10th in the region’s “Public Colleges” category on the “30 Best College Values in the Mid- Atlantic” list, among three other SUNY schools. New Paltz placed 17th in the nation on the “25 Best College Values Under $30,000 a Year” list, which ranks colleges all around the nation. New Paltz was only one of two SUNY campuses included in both of these lists, the other being SUNY Geneseo.
For the two rankings it received, the college was assessed by Kiplinger’s on qualities such as admission and retention rates, student faculty ratios, four-year graduation rates, tuition costs, financial aid availability and average debt upon graduation. Collectively, these factors lead to calculating the college’s value.
“We take great pride in being nationally recognized for delivering a quality education at an exceptional value,” Associate Dean of Admissions Kimberly Strano said. “This testimonial is yet another reflection of our commitments to access, quality and affordability.”
Strano said having the College’s value ranked by Kiplinger’s is a reflection of the strategic efforts they make in order to maintain a broader scale of affordability in higher education. With its strong and improving metrics, a continuation of growth in the college’s position on the list in the future is hopeful as well, she said.
“New Paltz is a strong academic leader while being a cost effective option for students,” Strano said. “New Paltz loves the third party endorsement from Kiplinger’s — it helps to illustrate the hard work that has been done here. We are committed to providing our students with an outstanding education that is cost effective.”
According to Kiplinger’s website, there are many factors that weigh in on calculating the value rankings including student indebtedness, competiveness, graduation rates and academic support. But first, Kiplinger’s looks for an institution with a low sticker price and a well-established, need-based financial aid system.
“Our annual rankings focus on the best value schools, recognizing those that maintain academic integrity and standards while meeting the financial needs of their students,” Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, said.
While Strano remains unsure if the Kiplinger’s “best value” rankings will boost enrollment at SUNY New Paltz, she said they will play an important role in improving the relationship between potential students and the college.
“It is hard to tell if this will create greater interest but it does help to underscore our positive attributes and that can only strengthen our position with prospective students and their families, current students and with our Alumni,” she said.
