Tufts Ranks High on Best College Values List

Financial Magazine Ranks Private Colleges for Value

– Allison Goldsberry

Despite being one of the most expensive colleges in Massachusetts, a financial magazine has ranked Tufts University among its 100 best college values.

Kiplinger has ranked Tufts 21st among private universities and 16th on the list of best college values in New England. Tufts is 54th out of the 1,200 U.S. institutions that Kiplinger rates based on student-faculty ratio, graduation rate, tuition and fees, financial aid and students’ average debt at graduation, among other factors.

Princeton, Swarthmore, and UNC-Chapel Hill received top honors on the listing.

Tufts has made Kiplinger’s value list before.

Value might seem like a relative term when average costs per year for public and private colleges are roughly $20,000 and $40,000, respectively. However, Kiplinger points out that many families don’t pay the full sticker price due to financial aid, and institutions’ generosity in doling out aid is one of several factors Kiplinger weighs while creating its rankings.

While Tufts’ full sticker price is $63,000 this year, about 44% of students receive some form of financial assistance, and the average award is around $30,000, according to Tufts. The university also offers a loan repayment assistance program for students who enter public service.