Every week, it seems, a new study comes out that ranks colleges and universities in one area or another. It seems as though a cottage industry has sprung up around higher education, churning out “best of” lists with such regularity that it’s tempting to disregard them altogether.
Yet some studies are better than others, and some “best of” lists warrant attention.
This week, the financial data and technology firm, SmartAsset, released its study on the nation’s colleges and universities that looks at which schools represented the best value in education.
The study went beyond just ranking the schools based on their tuition, which makes sense.
SmartAsset looked at four key areas — tuition, scholarship/grants awarded, cost of living and average starting salary for graduates — to compile a College Education Affordability Index (CEAI) score for each school.
Of the seven Mississippi schools evaluated, Mississippi University for Women came out with the top score, picking up high marks in all four areas, ranking first in tuition costs and cost of living, second in student retention and third in average starting salary.
Ole Miss ranked second, based on top rankings in scholarships/grants awarded and student retention. Mississippi State graduates, meanwhile, earn the most upon graduation.
All of our state schools offer comparative low tuitions, which is a testament to the our universities’ commitment to conservative fiscal policies. As one of the poorest states in the country, there exists a real danger of pricing Mississippi students out of the higher education market.
That our universities have managed to keep costs low continues to be a challenge. As Delta State President Bill LaForge noted last week speaking to the Columbus Exchange Club, state support for universities continues to decline.
“Twelve years ago, the state covered 65 percent of tuition costs,” LaForge noted. “Today, that’s flipped. The state provides just 37 percent of tuition costs. It used to be that our universities were state-supported. Today, it would be a better description to say they are state-assisted. Someday, we may have to call them state-located.”
As noted, tuition costs alone are not the full measure of a quality, affordable education. That is why measuring schools on the basis of scholarships/grants, which can greatly reduce the growing financial burden on students, is something that matters. Likewise, retention is an important consideration, a student who drops out has little to show for his or her previous investment. Finally, the starting salary upon graduation is an indicator of “where the rubber meets the road.”
When all things are considered, MUW stands at the top of the list, which is a testament to the leadership of its administrators, the expertise of faculty and staff and the dedication of its students.
Studies come and go, of course, but there is substance to this one.
MUW provides a quality education at an affordable price.
That’s a winning combination.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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