University makes dramatic jump as one of ‘best values in public colleges’

The University of South Carolina jumped 16 spots to rank in the top 7 percent of the nation’s public universities that provide “a first-rate education without breaking the bank,” according to Kiplinger’s “Best Values in Public Colleges.”

The national ranking, which appears in the magazine’s February issue, puts the University of South Carolina No. 35 among 500 public universities for best values for in-state students, up from No. 51 in 2007. The ranking also puts the university in the top 11 percent of best values for out-of-state students -- at No. 59 from No. 72 in 2007.

South Carolina was one of threel public national universities singled out for dramatically increasing its rankings because of its “more competitive admission rate, plus better test scores.”

Kiplinger’s bases its annual college rankings on several factors to determine schools that deliver “outstanding academic quality plus an affordable price tag.” The study examines undergraduate enrollment size, SAT/ACT scores, student/faculty ratio, 4-year and 6-year graduation rates, total costs before and after financial aid and average debt at graduation.

University President Andrew Sorensen said the rankings underscore the momentum at the University of South Carolina to attract top students from the Palmetto State and the nation.

Sorensen said they also illustrate the major investment the university has made in programs that ensure students receive the support they need to be successful and on track to graduate.

“The 2007 freshman class entered the university with the highest average SAT score in our history, and our entering Honors College students now average an SAT score over 1400,” Sorensen said. “New information on academic quality and affordability is particularly relevant for students and their parents who are making decisions now about colleges for the 2008 - 09 academic year. In spite of increased financial demands faced by colleges and universities across the country, we remain among the nation’s best schools in terms of quality of education with an affordable price tag.”

The ranking puts the university in third place among universities in the Southeastern Conference – behind the University of Florida (2) and the University of Georgia (7) and ahead of Louisiana State University (52), the University of Arkansas (59), the University of Alabama (60), the University of Tennessee (73), Auburn University (88) and Mississippi State University (95).

The university also is ranked ahead of a number of leading, public research universities, including Ohio State (37), Penn State (45), Purdue (47), Iowa (54) and Arizona (85).

The Kiplinger ranking is the latest of several accolades earned by the University of South Carolina in the past year. U.S.News & World Report ranked the Moore School’s undergraduate program in international business No. 1 in the nation in the 2008 “America’s Best College’s” guide and listed the Moore School No. 41 among the top 50 business schools. Among public universities, the Moore School is ranked No. 24.

U.S. News, in its 2008 America’s Best Graduate Schools study, also lauded the College of Education’s Professional Development School network, calling it a leadership model for professional development schools for teachers nationwide.

To access the full rankings, visit the Kiplinger's Web site.