Seeking A 'Best Value' College? Don't Leave Home

ORANGE COUNTY, CA – The University of California, Irvine, ranked on two financial publications' 2016 listings for the "best value" colleges.

Money Magazine recently released Money's Best Colleges, an article in which the publication "determined which of the roughly 2,000 four-year U.S. colleges and universities deliver the most value—that is, a great education, at an affordable price, that prepares students for rewarding careers."

According to the publication, schools were ranked on 24 factors in three categories: educational quality; affordability; and alumni success.

At the top of the list was Princeton University, with UC Irvine coming in at No. 16.

"Although more than 40 percent of students come from low-income families, 86 percent of freshmen go on to graduate—an impressive 41 percent more than the average for schools with a similar student body," Money editors wrote. "And the typical Anteater (the nickname comes from the school mascot) earns more than $50,600 within five years of graduation, about 11 percent more than alums of comparable colleges."

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Concurrently, Forbes released its America's Best Value Colleges 2016, based on very similar criteria. Forbes wondered what schools are worth the six-figure financial investment of a four-year degree. The publication rated schools based on "tuition costs, school quality, graduation success and post-grad earnings."

At the top of the Forbes list: UC-Berkeley. At No. 10: UC Irvine.

"The university offers more than 80 degree programs to undergraduates in 16 different schools, including the nation's first school of social ecology. In addition to its academic programs, UCI created a new collaborative workspace, The Cove, to further innovation," the publication said.

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Numerous schools from Los Angeles County also made the top rankings, including Harvey Mudd College, Claremont McKenna College and Pomona College, all in Claremont, California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, and UCLA.

Also see:

• Saks Institute At USC Awarded Grant To Study Mental Health
• UC Irvine Awarded $1 Million Grant For Alzheimer's Research

--Image courtesy of University of California, Irvine on Facebook