The University of Wisconsin is the ninth most affordable public university in America, according to annual rankings released by the Princeton Review last month.

The list is based on institutional data collected from colleges and universities from fall 2005 through summer 2006 and surveys of students attending the schools.

Adrinda Kelly, senior editor of Princeton Review books, said UW's academics helped place it on the coveted list.

"We wouldn't be talking about it if it wasn't a strong academic institution," Kelly said. "We report what we know and what we hear from students."

Kelly said UW's in-state tuition is affordable and added the university offers many need-based scholarships, $9 million in financial aid and between $6 and $7 million in athletic scholarships.

"Education in Wisconsin is a great story about the efforts the administration is making to make sure it is a best value school for its students," Kelly said.

UW sophomore Liz Brynes said she agreed with UW's placement on the most affordable list.

"For the education we receive, I think it is an amazing university, and the tuition is not high," Brynes said. "For what Wisconsin residents pay, it is definitely an affordable university to attend."

Brynes, who pays in-state tuition, said she is not sure whether out-of-state tuition is an affordable bargain for other students. Including $730 in student-segregated fees, in-state tuition for 2006-07 is $6,730.24, and nonresident tuition is $20,730.16.

Kelly said UW was one of 650 schools analyzed by the Princeton Review — all institutionally strong — as part of the annual survey. She added the Princeton Review considers factors such as academics, tuition, room and board, and financial aid.

Academics are measured by statistics released by university admissions offices and feedback gathered by recent graduates.

"We want to see how students rate their academic experience," Kelly said. "We look at it from a holistic experience, from great academic scholarship to outside of the classroom experiences."

Kelly said the average debt of graduating students as well as aid and gift awards also play into the rankings.

"Because college costs are a prevalent concern, we wanted to offer the best value colleges," Kelly said. "We want to educate students of their options on how best to afford college."