Berea College Named a 2016 “Best College Value” by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance

Acknowledged for Embodying Exceptional Economic and Academic Value

Berea, KY (December 17, 2015)— Berea College has been named to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance’s list of the Top 300 Best College Values of 2016. The rankings highlight public schools, private universities and private liberal arts colleges that combine outstanding academics with affordable cost. In addition, Kiplinger has ranked the top 100 best values in each category. Berea College is ranked in the top 50 liberal arts colleges and in the top 100 in Kiplinger’s combined list of top schools nationally.

Learning of the rankings, Berea College President Lyle Roelofs stated, “We are gratified to have Berea be recognized with strong rankings such as this. Our current students, alumni and donors also can take pride in knowing the school they attend and support continues to serve the public good by providing a high-quality education for talented, low-income students from Appalachia and beyond.”

Kiplinger assesses value by measurable standards of academic quality and affordability. Quality measures include the admission rate, the percentage of students who return for sophomore year, the student-faculty ratio and four-year graduation rate. Cost criteria include sticker price, financial aid and average debt at graduation. Berea, like many schools, has been recognized by Kiplinger multiple times, a testament to the consistent value these particular colleges provide.

Janet Bodnar, Editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine said, “We start with a universe of 1,200 schools, so each school on our rankings, from number 1 to number 300, is a best value. Families can use the list as a starting point and then tailor it to each student’s preference for such things as size, location, campus culture and major.”

At Kiplinger.com, visitors have access to the “Find the Best College for You” tool and other tools that let readers sort by admission rate, average debt at graduation and other criteria for all schools, plus in-state and out-of-state cost for public universities. Also online: slide shows of the top 10 schools in different categories, archives of past years’ rankings and an FAQ on the ranking methodology.

The complete rankings are now available online at Kiplinger.com/links/college and will appear in print in the February 2016 issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, on newsstands January 5.

About Kiplinger

For nine decades, the Kiplinger organization has led the way in personal finance and business forecasting. Founded in 1920 by W.M. Kiplinger, the company developed one of the nation’s first successful newsletters in modern times. The Kiplinger Letter, launched in 1923, remains the longest continuously published newsletter in the United States. In 1947, Kiplinger created the nation’s first personal finance magazine. Kiplinger.com is the fastest growing Web site in the personal finance space. Located in the heart of our nation’s capital, the Kiplinger editors remain dedicated to delivering sound, unbiased advice for your family and your business in clear, concise language. Become a fan of Kiplinger on Facebook or Kiplinger.com and follow Kiplinger on Twitter and LinkedIn.