Princeton Review names UNL a 'Best Value' university

             The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is among the nation's "Best Value" colleges and universities according to a Princeton Review publication released this week.

            UNL is one of 150 schools nationwide -- 75 public and 75 private undergraduate institutions -- to be featured in The Princeton Review book, "The Best Value Colleges: 2013 Edition." UNL is also the only Nebraska college or university to make the list.

            "UNL is very excited to be featured as a 'Best Value' and to be the only Nebraska university to make the list," said Amber Hunter, UNL's director of admissions. “We work very hard to ensure UNL is affordable for all students by providing the largest financial aid packages in the state."

            The 150 schools were selected after a review of institutional and student surveys from 650 colleges and universities. Key data points used in the rankings include academics, cost of attendance and financial aid. The top colleges in each group are ranked from one to 10, while the remaining 65 are listed in alphabetical order.

            UNL is among seven Big Ten universities included in the "Best Value" list. Two Big Ten universities are ranked in the top 10 for public colleges -- the University of Wisconsin at seventh and University of Michigan at ninth. Other Big Ten universities profiled among the 75 public colleges are Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota and Purdue.

            The list also included the University of Maryland, which joins the Big Ten in 2014.

            In the Princeton Review profile, editors said, "UNL is committed to helping students plan their education at the university as well as their life beyond it." The report also identified UNL's new Exploratory and Pre-Professional Advising Center and Guided Professional Shadowing Program as key avenues that help students graduate in four years.

            "The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a wonderful school that allows a student to create one's own destiny by supplying caring professors, ample opportunities for research and growth both academically and socially, in a college town environment second to none," the Princeton Review editors wrote.

            Student comments praised the unity among UNL's student body and the acceptance of everyone on campus. Additional student comments highlighted the beauty of campus, wide variety of campus programming and Lincoln's thriving downtown.

            The "Best Value" profile also reflects UNL's commitment to helping students through financial aid. One student is quoted as saying: "UNL is very affordable for in-state students and offered me a generous financial aid package that other schools did not."

            The profile also highlights that 75 percent of freshmen receive some type of funding assistance and outlines how the Collegebound Nebraska program promises Pell Grants to all eligible Nebraska students.

            For more information, go to www.princetonreview.com/best-value-colleges.aspx.

            Founded in 1981, The Princeton Review is an American-based standardized test preparation and admissions consulting company. It is not affiliated with Princeton University or any of its publications.

            The Princeton Review partners with USA Today on the annual "Best Values" project.

Writer: Troy Fedderson, Office of University Communications, 402-472-8515