For students evaluating private National Universities, which offer the BEST VALUE?

College Search & Selection
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<p>Recently Kiplinger.com released its 2009 ranking for BEST VALUES among private universities. For many students and families, in today’s challenging economic environment, the matter of which private colleges provide the best value is likely of great importance.</p>

<p>The following schools represent Kiplinger’s Top 25 Best Values for private national universities</p>

<li> Caltech</li>
<li> Yale</li>
<li> Princeton </li>
<li> Rice</li>
<li> Duke</li>
<li> Harvard</li>
<li> Dartmouth</li>
<li> MIT</li>
<li> Emory</li>
<li>Stanford </li>
<li>U Penn</li>
<li>Brown</li>
<li>Northwestern</li>
<li>Notre Dame</li>
<li>Vanderbilt</li>
<li>Brandeis</li>
<li>U Richmond</li>
<li>Johns Hopkins</li>
<li>Tufts</li>
<li>Wake Forest</li>
<li>Georgetown</li>
<li>Boston College </li>
<li>Trinity (Texas)</li>
<li>Cornell</li>
<li>Columbia</li>
</ol>

<p>Of these 25, only Trinity ranks outside the USNWR Top 50.</p>

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<p>I don't understand the basis of this list... all the schools are priced within 10% of each other (except Rice I think is cheaper by a measure). Given that constant cost, the "bargain" would simply be derived from putting rank over cost, and be identical to a simple rank ordering without cost.</p>

<p>But the reality is that financial aid changes the cost significantly and sometimes unpredictably.</p>

<p>The Ivies are fantastic bargains for families w. income under $120,000.
USC gives 50% tuition merit credit to NMFs which is routinely renewed year over year. (and that's not even on the list)</p>