UF is the best value public college in the state of Florida, according to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine.
The university ranked No. 3 for in-state and No. 11 for out-of-state.
Each school is ranked on its in-state and out-of-state cost. The tuition for each has different cost structures. In-state is first because more students who go to public universities choose one in their home state, said senior associate editor Marc Wojno.
UF costs $16,593 per year for in-state tuition and $38,870 for out-of-state tuition.
Other Florida schools on the list included Florida State University, University of Central Florida and University of South Florida.
Kiplinger is a publisher of business forecast and advice. The rankings were based on cost and quality.
Kiplinger started with 600 public institutions and narrowed down the list to 130 based on academic quality and then ranked those schools on cost and financial aid.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ranked No. 1 for in-state and No. 2 for out-of-state. Although the university’s tuition is more than UF’s, UNC’s cost is less after need-based aid is factored in. UNC cost about $18,000 for in-state tuition and with financial aid factored in, it cost about $6,000. At UF, after financial aid is applied, tuition cost about $9,000.
No. 2 for in-state was the University of Virginia, which switched places with UF this year.
Wojno said UF cost went up and test scores fell slightly, while UVA rose in test scores and four-year-graduation rate.
UF spokesman Steve Orlando said these rankings seem fair and objective.
“The fact we’re No. 3 in very good company speaks very well for the university,” he said.
Contact Samantha Shavell at sshavell@alligator.org.
