<p>Interesting reading.</p>
<p>Graduation</a> rates: Challenge, expectations may play a role - USATODAY.com</p>
<p>DAd II
Thank you for posting this article</p>
<p>Your article links to this article on top values of public and private schools. Here’s the list of their recommended top publics. Which are on your s’s radar screen? [Getting</a> the most bang for your college buck - USATODAY.com](<a href=“http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-01-07-best-value-colleges_N.htm]Getting”>http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-01-07-best-value-colleges_N.htm)</p>
<p>PUBLIC
- University of Virginia (Charlottesville)
- New College of Florida (Sarasota)
- College of William & Mary (Williamsburg, Va.)
- State University of New York-Binghamton
- Florida State University (Tallahassee)
- North Carolina State University (Raleigh)
- University of California San Diego
- City University of New York – Hunter College (New York, N.Y.)
- University of Georgia (Athens)
- The College of New Jersey (Ewing)</p>
<p>I think the value rankings are totally useless for families and students starting the selection process, since they just use averages for financial awards. If your EFC is zero, certainly HYPS would offer the best value (if you can get in!), whereas if your EFC is higher than COA, you must use absolute costs and/or possible merit aid to determine value. Every one between those two extremes would also find those rankings oversimplified and pointless in their decision making.</p>
<p>The only purpose I can see for those rankings is to give schools on the list bragging rights and PR opportunities.</p>