On Campus
Muskingum named 5th Best Value by U.S. News and World Report
Muskingum University has earned a fifth place ranking in U.S. News and World Report’s 2017 Best Colleges. The ranking came in the Best Values in Midwest Regional Universities category, and is the highest Muskingum has achieved since becoming a university.
Muskingum was ranked number five out of a total of 171 midwestern institutions in the category, which includes Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota. Only institutions which meet strict criteria can be considered in the Best Values category.
“Throughout its history, Muskingum has never wavered from its singular goal, which is to strive for and demonstrate excellence in all that we do,” said Muskingum University President Dr. Sue Hasseler. “This U.S. News Best Value ranking is a vivid demonstration of what that commitment -- from our faculty, students, staff, alumni and Board of Trustees -- can achieve.”
“Muskingum has always been fully committed to controlling its costs and maximizing the value that students receive for their tuition,” said Jeff Zellers, vice president of enrollment and institutional research at Muskingum. “A total of 98 percent of Muskingum students received either academic or need-based financial aid from the university. Affordability is a large part of the value equation.”
“We further strengthened our focus on that philosophy in 1996 when we cut tuition 30 percent across the board. That action opened the door to generations of students seeking a top-quality higher education experience,” he added.
The calculations used by U.S. News to establish its rakings take into account a school's academic quality, as indicated by its 2017 U.S. News Best Colleges ranking, and the 2015-2016 net cost of attendance for a student who received the average level of need-based financial aid. The higher the measurable quality of the academic programs, coupled with affordability, result in the highest Best Value ranks. Only schools ranked in or near the top half of their evaluation categories are included.
Since it began publication nearly 30 years ago, U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges has become a highly regarded and carefully watched measurement of quality in higher education. Today, U.S. News publications are viewed by more than 30 million people a month.
