New Paltz again ranked as best value by Kiplinger’s

NEW PALTZ –The State University of New York at New Paltz is again among the top 100 best values in the nation for public four-year institutions that deliver a high quality education at an affordable price, according to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine’s annual rankings for 2014.

New Paltz ranked 49th and was one of only nine SUNY campuses included in this national ranking.

“We are honored to receive another external and expert endorsement of the outstanding value of a New Paltz education,” said L. David Eaton, vice president of enrollment management at New Paltz. “This testimonial underscores what we already know about this college – we have outstanding students who are successful here in their lives after graduation and we remain affordable, thus providing access to talented students from New York State and beyond.”

“SUNY is proud to once again see so many of its campuses ranked favorably by Kiplinger’s magazine for the top educational value they offer students in New York and around the globe,” said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. “Congratulations to New Paltz on this much-deserved recognition, which is a reflection of our commitments to access, quality, and affordability.”

“The college landscape today is very different—tuition increases and student debt dominate the national conversation surrounding higher education,” said Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. “This year’s top 100 schools have made admirable strides to maintain academic integrity and standards while meeting the financial needs of their students.”

New Paltz is consistently ranked among the nation’s top public colleges in a variety of categories. Earlier this year, Affordable Colleges Online ranked New Paltz No. 2 in its list of “Top 50 Affordable Colleges with a High ROI,” a list of the nation’s most affordable colleges with the biggest return on investment (ROI); and the College Database selected New Paltz for inclusion in its “Top 50 public colleges and universities for best lifetime degree value,” a list of the nation’s college’s with the greatest lifetime return on investment (ROI). New Paltz ranked No. 5and was one of only three SUNY campuses included in this national ranking, and the only one in the top 10. Additionally, the college ranked 6th among best public regional universities in New England and the Mid-Atlantic with both bachelor’s and master’s degree programs according to U.S. News & World Report.

The annual public school rankings appear in Kiplinger’s February 2014 issue and online now at kiplinger.com/links/college. Schools were ranked according to a number of 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 low sticker prices, abundant financial aid, and low average debt at graduation.