Editors from Great Value Colleges scoured Midwestern America for affordable schools and the top 50 universities are graded in a creative new ranking.
SALISBURY, Md., Sept. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Hundreds of accredited colleges and universities are located in the Midwestern United States, but only 50 of them are considered tops by Great Value Colleges. The educational leader gives its highest grades in a resourceful new article titled "50 Great Affordable Colleges in the Midwest." True to its mission, Great Value Colleges hosts a free web guide to help students find great schools with an eye on value, and the new article is part of a regional series on the site.
In a unique angle on affordability, the piece profiles only those institutions with tuition fees below the national average, which is defined in the article as roughly $22,000 per year. All Midwestern schools with higher price tags were eliminated out of hand, and the ones remaining were passed through a rigorous grading system developed by Great Value Colleges' editing staff.
Equal points were awarded for beneficial features, such as low faculty-to-student ratios, high percentages of freshmen retention, high rates of graduation, numbers of student organizations and other factors. Colleges that did well in a recent Forbes' ranking of top U.S. schools were given additional points in Great Value Colleges' Midwest rankings. Ultimately, 25 top private universities and 25 top public universities were picked for the article. They are ranked and numbered from high to low according to cost. Also included are Great Value Colleges' quality ratings, as well as a brief description of each of the selected colleges.
Job opportunities in Midwest states are increasing, according to federal census data, and many Midwestern regions have some of the lowest cost of living indexes in the nation. Students who live and study in Midwestern states can take advantage of those benefits to add value to their overall college experience. They can save on housing, transportation and other costs while attending school, and have improved chances for immediate employment upon graduation. The article makes it easier to compare and evaluate the top Midwest colleges in one handy list.
To learn more about low-cost degree programs and superior educational value at accredited Midwestern universities, read "50 Great Affordable Colleges in the Midwest" online at this URL: http://www.greatvaluecolleges.net/affordable/midwest-us/
Below is the ranking for 25 of the best public and 25 private colleges in the Midwest with affordable tuition sorted from high to low according to cost:
Public Schools
25. University of Cincinnati: Cincinnati, Ohio
24. Grand Valley State University: Allendale, Michigan
23. Ohio University: Athens, Ohio
22. Ohio State University: Columbus, Ohio
21. University of Kansas: Lawrence, Kansas
20. University of Missouri – Columbia: Columbia, Missouri
19. University of Oklahoma: Norman, Oklahoma
18. University of Wisconsin – Madison: Madison, Wisconsin
17. University of Iowa: Iowa City, Iowa
16. University of Michigan: Ann Arbor, Michigan
15. Illinois State University: Normal, Illinois
14. Kansas State University: Manhattan, Kansas
13. University of Minnesota: Minneapolis, Minnesota
12. University of Nebraska – Lincoln: Lincoln, Nebraska
11. Michigan State University: East Lansing, Michigan
10. Oklahoma State University: Stillwater, Oklahoma
9. University of Northern Iowa: Cedar Falls, Iowa
8. Iowa State University: Ames, Iowa
7. North Dakota State University: Fargo, North Dakota
6. Purdue University: West Lafayette, Indiana
5. Truman State University: Kirksville, Missouri
4. Ball State University: Muncie, Indiana
3. Saint Cloud University: Saint Cloud, Minnesota
2. University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign: Champaign, Illinois
1. Indiana University – Bloomington: Bloomington, Indiana
Private Schools
25. Valparaiso University: Valparaiso, Indiana
24. William Jewel College: Liberty, Missouri
23. Hamline University: St. Paul, Minnesota
22. Cornell College: Mt. Vernon, Iowa
21. Drury University: Springfield, Missouri
20. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota: Winona, Minnesota
19. University of Evansville: Evansville, Indiana
18. Illinois Institute of Technology: Chicago, Illinois
17. Concordia College at Moorhead: Moorhead, Minnesota
16. Coe College: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
15. Earlham College: Richmond, Indiana
14. Hastings College: Hastings, Nebraska
13. Northwestern College: Orange City, Iowa
12. Ripon College: Ripon, Wisconsin
11. Alma College: Alma, Michigan
10. Elmhurst College: Elmhurst, Illinois
9. Millikin University: Decatur, Illinois
8. Goshen College: Goshen, Indiana
7. Simpson College: Indianola, Iowa
6. Augustana College: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
5. Lewis University: Romeoville, Illinois
4. Rockhurst University: Kansas City, Missouri
3. Huntington University: Huntington, Indiana
2. Oklahoma Baptist University: Shawnee, Oklahoma
1. College of the Ozarks: Point Lookout, Missouri
About: Great Value Colleges makes it easy to find quality colleges and universities with low-cost degree programs. Browse the site for free to find rankings for top U.S. schools, and get informative recommendations for popular jobs and career paths.
Contact:
Autumn Naugle, Editor
Email
Phone: 410-713-4748
Web: http://www.greatvaluecolleges.net