Hunter in Top 10 National ‘Best Value’ Ranking of Public Universities
Hunter College is the nation’s #8 “Best Value” public college for 2009, according to “Best Value Colleges for 2009,” a ranking released today by The Princeton Review and USA Today.
The Princeton Review selected the institutions as its “best value” choices for 2009 based on its surveys of administrators and students at more than 650 public and private colleges and universities. The selection criteria covered more than 30 factors in three areas: academics, costs of attendance, and financial aid. Tallies were made using the most recently reported data from each institution for its 2007-08 academic year. Of the 50 schools chosen in each “best value” category (public and private), the top 10 are ranked in order, and the remaining 40 are listed alphabetically.
According to the rankings website (PrincetonReview.com/BestValueColleges or BestValueColleges.usatoday.com), “For many New Yorkers seeking a college degree, Hunter College within the CUNY system offers the best, most affordable option available. It is the first choice among many applicants…Hunter has a lot to offer beyond its minuscule tuition. The school’s faculty is a huge asset, for one. Students agree that professors are expert and that they work hard to accommodate undergraduates. Location is another major plus, as New York City is a virtually limitless source of valuable internship opportunities.”
Said Hunter President Jennifer J. Raab, “We are proud to be on this list, particularly because it proves the ongoing success of Hunter’s mission: to provide an outstanding education at a price you can afford. Especially during the current economic crisis, it is a privilege to lead an institution where the American Dream still comes true.”
Indeed, many concur that the present economy will bring greater attention to this year’s “Best Values” list than those in years past. Robert Franek, Princeton Review VP-Publisher, said, “We have always believed finding the ‘best fit’ college should be the foremost goal for student applicants and their families. But the economic crisis and financial downturn have presented sobering challenges both to families struggling to afford college and to higher education institutions struggling to maintain their programs in the face of budget and funding shortfalls.”#
