If something were considered “cost-effective” but did not deliver on quality, it wouldn’t be a great buy. A “great buy” delivers terrific value for the dollar, and the extent of that value transcends monetary considerations and is generally measured in benefits and results.
The Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey, conducted by the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, recently ranked Middle Tennessee State University among the top 50 schools in the nation as a “Best Buy” in higher education—in other words, an institution that delivers the greatest return on investment by a student or his or her parents.
In the category of “Best Colleges and Universities in America,” MTSU ranked as the top public institution in Tennessee and was in the top 100 public universities in the nation among 600 schools included in the evaluation. Universities recognized in this category were evaluated on a variety of factors, including entries in “Who’s Who in America,” faculty salary data, course evaluations, awards received by students and faculty, and graduation rates. In a unique twist, the study placed significantly greater emphasis on student perception of faculty quality than on many other ratings.
“Being ranked among the top 100 public institutions in the United States is an honor that has resulted from the hard work and commitment of our outstanding students, faculty, staff and alumni,” said MTSU President Sidney A. McPhee. “Additionally, our designation as a ‘Best Buy’ among the top 50 colleges and universities in the country speaks to our commitment to providing an academic experience that goes beyond the expectation and focuses directly on the needs and success of our students. In both cases, these notable rankings reaffirm our position as ‘Tennessee’s Best.’”
In the “Best Buy” designation, MTSU ranked 47th and was in the company of other top-50 institutions such as the University of Florida, the University of California at Berkeley, The Citadel and the College of William and Mary.
This is the second year for Forbes’ “America’s Best Colleges” rankings. The Center for College Affordability and Productivity is an independent not-for-profit center based in Washington, D.C., that encourages dialogue and research on issues facing higher education. |
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