Clark University Is A Great Value For Education: Report

WORCESTER, MA—Clark University's a good value for a college education, nearly at the top of a list just released, actually.

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance has again included Clark University on its list of the country’s best values in private colleges in an annual list that ranks 100 private universities, 100 public schools and 100 liberal arts colleges. Clark hit number 33 on the ranking of best values in private universities for 2018.

To make the list, the school must "provide high-quality academics at a reasonable cost."

Kiplinger’s restricts its analysis, according to the announcement, to measureable standards of academic quality and affordability; quality measures, which are weighted more heavily than cost, include the admission rate, the percentage of students who return for sophomore year, the student-faculty ratio and the four-year graduation rate. Cost criteria include sticker price, financial aid and average debt at graduation. The 300 ranked schools are chosen from a field of 1,200.

“Selecting a college and deciding how to pay for it have become high-stakes financial decisions,” writes Kaitlin Pitsker of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance in a statement. “Over the past 20 years, tuition, fees, and room and board, adjusted for inflation, have increased by 59 percent at private, nonprofit four-year colleges and by a whopping 82% for in-state students attending public four-year colleges, according to the College Board. … What hasn't changed is Kiplinger's definition of value: a high-quality education at an affordable price.”

Donald Honeman, Clark University dean of admissions and financial aid, said in a statement, “Our continued inclusion in the Kiplinger’s rankings reflects how effectively Clark has responded to the challenge of affordability while offering a higher education experience that ensures a strong return on families’ education investment. Clark offers a generous set of financial aid and scholarship options, an Accelerated B.A./Master’s Degree program with the fifth year tuition-free for strong undergraduate students, and a remarkably affordable room and board program — an appealing combination for students and their families.”

The complete rankings are now available online and appear in print in the February 2018 issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.