Best Value Schools National Liberal Arts Colleges
Best Value Schools Methodology
Which colleges and universities offer students the best value? The calculation used here takes into account a school's academic quality, as indicated by its 2013 U.S. News Best Colleges ranking, and the 2011-2012 net cost of attendance for a student who receives the average level of need-based financial aid. The higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal. Only schools ranked in or near the top half of their categories are included, because U.S. News considers the most significant values to be among colleges that are above average academically.
| Save | Rank | School | Percent receiving need-based grants: | Average cost after receiving grants based on need: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |
Amherst College
Amherst, MA |
57.1% | $15,557 | |
| #2 |
Williams College
Williamstown, MA |
52.4% | $18,076 | |
| #3 |
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY |
66.4% | $19,640 | |
| #4 |
Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA |
57.6% | $19,329 | |
| #5 |
Pomona College
Claremont, CA |
53.5% | $19,250 | |
| #6 |
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA |
52.5% | $19,545 | |
| #7 |
Grinnell College
Grinnell, IA |
70.0% | $19,562 | |
| #8 |
Soka University of America
Aliso Viejo, CA |
69.2% | $16,561 | |
| #9 |
Haverford College
Haverford, PA |
49.2% | $20,367 | |
| #10 |
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME |
45.9% | $20,565 |
