The Princeton Review “released this morning”:http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-01-07-best-value-colleges_N.htm its annual rankings of best value colleges and universities for 2009. The College of William and Mary ranked third among public universities; private universities are ranked separately.
The University of Virginia took the number one spot, followed by New College of Florida in second and the College in third. The top three ranked private institutions were Swarthmore College, Harvard University and Princeton University, respectively.
Princeton Review editor Robert Franek “appeared this morning”:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/28557389#28557389 on NBC’s ‘Today Show’ to discuss the rankings, including the College.
“[The average financial aid package of $12,200 is] pretty good, especially when you start to think about in-state tuition at [$16,100], out-of-state tuition around [$27,000], so it’s still a bargain whether you’re an in-state or out-of-state student,” Franek said on “The Today Show.” “William and Mary is the second oldest school in the country, an exceptional classroom experience, electric students in the classroom as well.
The rankings are based on surveys of students and administrators at hundreds of universities, focusing especially on academic quality, tuition and average financial aid.
College President Taylor Reveley expressed pleasure with the ranking.
“It’s always satisfying when kind things are said about William and Mary,” Reveley said in a press release. “William and Mary does provide an education of extraordinary caliber for far less money than other schools of comparable caliber. We’re delighted that The Princeton Review agrees.”
College spokesman Brian Whitson agreed, adding that the positive press is a plus for the College.
“This is wonderful news — and great national exposure for William & Mary and Virginia higher education — to begin the new year,” he said in an e-mail.
The College appeared on “The Today Show” in late September when the morning news program aired live from Williamsburg.
