National and State Rankings List University of Scranton for Value of Education
Two just-published rankings recognized The University of Scranton among America’s and Pennsylvania’s best values in higher education based on student outcomes.
Forbes magazine’s online listing of “America’s Best Colleges” ranked the University No. 290 among only 650 universities in the nation selected based on data about “output” – or “return on investment.” The ranking, compiled for Forbes by The Center for College Affordability and Productivity, is based on a dozen factors that seek to evaluate schools’ effectiveness in five general areas: post-graduate success; student satisfaction; student debt; four-year graduation rate; and competitive awards won by students, such as prestigious scholarships and fellowships like the Rhodes, Marshall and Fulbright.
The University also ranked No. 27 among just 81 colleges in Pennsylvania recognized in a new listing by AffordableCollegesOnline.org (AC Online) as providing the greatest lifetime return on investment. According to AC Online, graduates of the schools selected enjoy the largest earnings gap between non-degree holders over thirty years, and earn more on average than graduates from other Pennsylvania schools. AC Online analyzed 402 colleges in Pennsylvania for its selection of “High ROI Colleges,” which published on July 29.
The Forbes ranking became public July 25. This is the sixth year Forbes ranked the University among “America’s Best Colleges.” Forbes does not categorize schools by size or institution type in its overall ranking, but does provide separate rankings of public and private colleges and geographic regions. Scranton ranked No. 205 in Forbes list of the “Best Private Colleges in America,” and No. 109 among the “Best Colleges in the Northeast.”
As of publication of this release, Forbes incorrectly lists the University’s acceptance rate. The University’s actual acceptance rate for 2012 is 68.8 percent.