Here's to getting bang for your buck: UW-Madison is the ninth best value among public universities for in-state students and 11th best value for out of state students, according to a national survey conducted by business magazine Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
UW-Madison advanced five spots from last year's ranking and is ranked higher than all other Big Ten schools, with the University of Michigan the closest at No. 22.
The surveyors began with academic quality, such as standardized test scores, student-faculty ratio and four-year graduation rate.
At UW-Madison, 57 percent of students scored between 24 and 26 on their ACT, and 35 percent scored between 30 and 36, according to the survey. The university has 17 students per faculty member, and 50 percent of students graduate in four years, while 82 percent graduate in six years.
The survey also accounts for affordability, which is measured by total cost, provided financial aid and average debt at graduation, among other expenses.
Combining tuition, room and board, fees and estimated book expenses, the average in-state student at UW-Madison spends $17,777 and out of state student spends $33,027. The university meets 76 percent of aid and the average debt at graduation is $21,552.
UW-Lacrosse and UW-Eau Claire also made the top 100. UW-Lacrosse was ranked No. 41 for out of state and 43 for in-state, UW-Eau Claire was No. 68 for in-state and 69 for out of state.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was named the top value for in-state students with an estimated total cost of $17,000 for in-state students and a 4-year graduation rate of 74 percent.
