The University of Wisconsin placed first in the Big 10 for the best value in a public university by Kiplinger Personal Finance, ranking 14th overall.
Jane Clark, senior associate editor for Kiplinger Personal Finance, said the survey measured academic value and affordability.
The original pool of 500 universities was narrowed down to 100 by looking at graduation rates, accessibility for financial aid and competitive admission in addition to quality of academics.
“Obviously in this economy students are looking to make the most of their dollar,” Clark said.
According to UW Provost Paul DeLuca Jr., UW achieved its ranking through high graduation rates, an active study abroad program and the breadth of the arts and humanities.
Majors offered in applied math and engineering along with a wide variety of foreign languages offered also add to an undergraduate degree, DeLuca said.
He also said studying abroad can negatively impact the timeliness for graduation, a factor by which the universities were ranked.
“It would be nice to be ranked even higher. It’s a bargain when you get down to it. The number of undergrads who participate in research is very high. We’re working hard to keep tuition low while still offering value,” DeLuca said.
The Madison Initiative for Undergraduates has projects in development that would add even more value to an undergraduate degree from UW, said Tom Templeton, vice chair of the Associated Students of Madison.
Templeton said some of the goals of the MIU, which include a campuswide shared adviser notes system, international internships and more faculty so students can graduate on time, will fill some of the holes in a UW undergraduate education.
Phased in over four years, the MIU will be partially funded through differential tuition charges, raising tuition for in-state undergraduates by $250 a year and out-of-state undergraduates by $750 a year over the next four years.
The Madison Initiative grant increases affordability by giving $2.3 million out to 900 qualifying students a year to offset the differential tuition increase connected to the MIU. This is closing the gap with need-based financial aid, said Templeton.
The next university in the Big 10 was the University of Michigan, trailing behind UW at 19th.
UW-La Crosse and UW-Eau Claire also made the list for best value in public universities, ranking 43rd and 67th respectively.
“We’re thrilled to be ranked so high. [UW-La Crosse] offers an outstanding learning experience at a reasonable price,” UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow said.
Gow said a recent tuition raise has been implemented to make improvements to the university through the Growth, Quality and Access program, including hiring 75 more faculty and 20 more staff. The increase in faculty would increase the student-to-teacher ratio.
Michael Rindo, executive director of UW-Eau Claire communications, also said one-on-one faculty interaction, what he calls the “hallmark” of a UW-Eau Claire education, is a major factor of the value of the university.
The two representatives speaking on behalf of their universities said their nationally ranked study abroad programs also added to their value.
