Methodology: Best Values
These rankings were based on three variables:
1. Ratio of quality to price: A school's overall score in the America's Best Colleges 2008 edition of the rankings was divided by the net cost to a student receiving the average need-based scholarship or grant. The higher the ratio of rank to the discounted cost (total costs less the average need-based scholarship or grant), the better the value.
2. Percentage of all undergraduates receiving need-based scholarships or grants during the 2006-2007 year.
3. Average discount: percentage of a school's 2006-2007 total costs (tuition, room and board, fees, books, and other expenses) covered by the average need-based scholarship or grant to undergraduates. In the case of public institutions, 2006-2007 out-of-state tuition and percentage of out-of-state students receiving need-based scholarship or grants were used. Only those schools ranked in, or near, the top half of their categories were considered. The schools' overall ranks were determined by first standardizing the scores achieved by every school in each of the three variables and weighting those scores. The ratio of quality to price accounted for 60 percent of the overall score, the percentage of all undergraduates receiving need-based grants accounted for 25 percent, and the average discount accounted for 15 percent. The school with the highest total weighted points became No. 1 in its category. The other schools were then ranked in descending order.
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