Lipscomb named a 2015 Best Value College by Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 |
Lipscomb University has been named to the Kiplinger Personal Finance list of 100 best values in private universities for 2015. The ranking cites four-year schools that combine outstanding academics with affordable cost.
This is the first time Lipscomb University has been included on this prestigious list. Among other universities included on the list are Harvard, Vanderbilt, Duke, Wake Forest, Princeton and Villanova.
“Student debt load is a critical issue among universities across the country,” said L. Randolph Lowry, Lipscomb University president. “At Lipscomb we work diligently to offer a quality education that is affordable and that gives students the tools they need to be successful. It is gratifying to be recognized for that effort and for a university that is vibrant and innovative and that is working with its students to develop financial plans that will allow them to graduate without a large debt burden.”
This is the latest of several recognitions the university has received for its quality and excellence. This fall, Lipscomb University was again ranked among the Top 20 regional universities in the South as well as an up-and-coming university in the region, according to the U.S. News and World Report’s “2015 America’s Best Colleges.” With an overall ranking of 18th in the Regional Universities-South category, Lipscomb was also ranked the second-best regional university in the South for veterans.
This past summer Lipscomb’s College of Education’s undergraduate secondary program was ranked No. 2 in the nation and its elementary program ranked 14th in the nation by the National Council on Teacher Quality’s 2014 Teacher Prep Review. For the fourth consecutive year in a report released in November, the College of Education was recognized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission as one of the most effective teacher preparation programs in the state. In an analysis of scores on THEC’s Report Card on the Effectiveness of Teacher Training Programs over three years, Lipscomb was found to be among the top five programs that have consistently produced teachers who outperform other teachers in the state, from 2012 to 2014. In addition, Lipscomb was recognized as one of the two largest teacher preparation programs among all private universities in the state.
Kiplinger’s assesses quality according to measurable standards, including the admission rate, the percentage of students who return for sophomore year, the student-faculty ratio and the four-year graduation rate. Cost criteria include sticker prices, financial aid and average debt at graduation.
“We salute this year’s top schools,” says Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. “Balancing top-quality education with affordable cost is a challenge for families in today’s economy, which is why Kiplinger’s rankings are such a valuable resource. The schools on the 2015 list offer students the best of both worlds.”
The complete rankings, including the top schools overall as well as the best values in public schools, private universities and private liberal arts colleges, are available online at kiplinger.com/links/college. The rankings will also appear in the February 2015 issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, on newsstands January 6, 2015. Web visitors will find special features, including a tool that lets readers sort by admission rate, average debt at graduation and other criteria for all schools, plus by in-state and out-of-state cost for public universities; a slide show of the top 10 schools in each category; archives of previous years’ rankings, and an FAQ about the ranking methodology.