YU Named a 2014 Best Private College by Kiplinger’s Based on Academic Quality and Affordability

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance has included Yeshiva University on its list of the country’s best values in private colleges. Kiplinger’s annual list ranks 100 private universities and 100 liberal arts colleges. The top 50 colleges and top 50 universities appear in Kiplinger’s December issue—on newsstands November 5. YU came in at number 33 overall on the list. Yeshiva University and the other schools included in the 2014 lists represent the colleges that provide high-quality academics at a reasonable cost during these continued tough economic times. The colleges exemplify the attributes parents and students look for in higher education, including small class sizes, a good freshman retention rate and a high four-year graduation rate. "We are honored to be recognized by Kiplinger's,” said Rabbi Kenneth Brander, vice president for university and community life. “The value proposition of the Yeshiva University undergraduate education: where our students study in small classes with first class academics, engage with the finest Judaic faculty, are accepted to the best graduate schools and into the professions of their choice—all while being inspired to make a difference in the world—is why we have always known there is ‘nowhere but here.’ " Kiplinger’s rankings measure academic quality and affordability. Academic criteria include the student admission rate (the number of students accepted out of those who apply), the test scores of incoming freshmen, the ratio of students to faculty members, and the four- and five-year graduation rates. On the cost side, Kiplinger’s measures the sticker price, the availability and average amount of need-based and merit-based financial aid, and the average student debt at graduation. “With President Obama’s recent emphasis on rating colleges and universities based on their value, our rankings serve as a valuable resource to help students and families make more informed choices,” says Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. “Combining a high-quality education with an affordable price tag is a challenge, but the colleges on this year’s list offer the best of both worlds.”