(CU Independent art/Beth Schonberger)
CU Boulder has been named the No. 5 “Best Value” public University for 2010, according to data released Tuesday by the USA Today and the Princeton Review.
“Well I think it confirms what we’ve known for years about CU Boulder which is that we are great value,” said Bronson Hilliard, CU spokesperson. “It’s gratifying that the USA Today and Princeton Review acknowledged this and that their methodology has explained this to readers.”
The value of a school was determined by over 30 factors in three main areas: academics, costs of attendance and financial aid. The criteria was determined by the most recently reported data for each university during the 2008-2009 school year, according to a CU press release.
“It is gratifying to have a national publication recognize what Colorado students have known for a long time: CU-Boulder is an amazing value,” said CU-Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano in the press release. “We are committed to providing an outstanding and affordable education for Colorado students and, indeed, for students around the nation and the world.”
The average tuition at CU ranges from $8,000 to $12,000 annually for in-state students, and $28,000 to $31,500 for out-of-state students. Tuition prices can fluctuate depending upon the school.
Despite the higher tuition price for non-residents, they still benefit from CU’s programs.
“Out-of-state students are paying a higher tuition, but they are benefiting for the value that the University affords,” Hilliard said.
Although some students acknowledge what they call a higher tuition, they said they still believe they are getting their monies worth.
“Money issues aside, since I don’t pay directly, I think we have a lot of really strong departments here,” said Srrah Algheithy, a 19-year-old sophomore computer science major and international student who is sponsored by a company in Saudi Arabia that pays tuition costs. “I’ve taken a lot of courses, tough courses, but they focus a lot on trying to improve teaching methods. They’re willing to change their teaching ways in order to help students improve. A lot of the course I’ve taken I don’t know compared to other university but the way they teach it is very practical. “
Darcey Johnson, a 21-year-old senior communications and history major said she also pays international tuition.
“It’s terrible. Absolutely terrible. I feel like its sometimes frustrating with people who are in state, I pay over 40 so that’s kinda frustrating. I still think it’s worth paying the amount that I do. Obliviously if I didn’t I wouldn’t go here…I think it’s a fair ranking.”
Last year, CU was ranked as the No. 7 university on Forbes.com’s list of post-graduate earning power, according to Hilliard.
“That means they looked at the salaries of our graduates, I think it was 10 years out of their career and we’ve got the seventh highest earning power of any university in the country,” Hilliard said.
Some out-of-state students say that the cost of tuition does not give them a high return value.
“I feel like the classes are worthy and I’m getting a good education that’s not really a education in my mind,” said Jessie Levine, a 20-year-old junior international affairs major. “It’s not worth what my parents pay for me go to here. I definitely pay more than 40 a year including everything.”
Iris Shuai, an international affairs major and 20-year-old junior, said she believes the payoff is also unsubstantial.
“I think that I’m not getting the best education possible because there are too many students at CU. So all the classrooms are extremely packed and it just feels crowded.“
Contact CU Independent News Budget Editor Sara Kassabian at Sara.kassabian@colorado.edu.
