BLACKSBURG, Va., Jan. 27, 2010 – Virginia Tech was ranked eighth "best value" public university for 2010, according to "The Princeton Review," who teamed with USA Today, to present its list, "'The Princeton Review' Best Value Colleges for 2010."
The Princeton Review selected the institutions as its "best value" choices for 2010 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, using the most recently reported data from each institution for its 2008-09 academic year.
"We know many families and students have serious concerns about paying for college in these tough economic times,” said Robert Franek, Princeton Review senior vice president and publisher, “Among the nearly 16,000 respondents to our 2009 "College Hopes and Worries Survey," of college applicants and parents, 85 percent said financial aid would be "very necessary" for them this year. However there are many first-rate institutions offering outstanding academics at a relatively low cost of attendance and/or generous financial aid, including some that may surprise applicants.”
Virginia Tech continues to increase its affordability for students by increasing instructional funding for student financial aid. More than 60 percent of Virginia Tech students receive some type of financial aid. The Funds for the Future program, for example, protects certain groups of low-income undergraduates from increases in tuition and fees, and reduces other unmet needs for certain groups of low-income undergraduates.
The ten best value public colleges for 2010 are:
Last year, Princeton Review gave Virginia Tech a top ranking in its "Best Campus Food" category.