UI still a ‘best-buy’ school
Some UI students believe the quality to price ratio of the UI is high. And a recent report shows they are right.
The UI made the Fiske Guides to Colleges’ list of universities with the best education at the most reasonable cost. The list — which doesn’t rank the schools against each other — evaluates strengths and weaknesses of more than 330 colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain.
“It is particularly gratifying to be recognized in the Fiske Guide,” said Michael Barron, the director of UI Admissions, in a June 26 news release.
This year, the list featured 19 public universities along with 26 private colleges. Each institution listed was qualified on the basis of the academic offerings in comparison with the cost.
The UI has landed a spot on the list for the past four years. It is the only Big Ten school named this year. Iowa State University was also listed.
UI junior Peter Haugen, who pays in-state tuition, said he believes he is getting a good education for the price he pays.
“I enjoy the atmosphere in the physics department, and it doesn’t seem as though we’re wasting any money,” he said.
UI junior Michelle Ward, on the other hand, believes that the education is costly, but she does think she is getting her money’s worth.
“I feel like any education you get is going to be expensive,” she said.
The UI falls in other national lists, such as the U.S. News and World Report Guide to Best Colleges.
In 2009, the UI was ranked 26th in the nation among public universities in terms of overall quality. The UI’s creative writing, nursing, physician’s assistant, and speech-language pathology master’s programs ranked as the top in the country.
Fiske Guide’s recognition comes even in the midst of a fiscal crunch.
“The administration and faculty have worked very hard to maintain the quality of education and quality of instruction even in the hard financial times,” he said.
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