UTM earns ‘Best Value’ designation

Posted: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 6:00 pm

The Messenger 02.15.12

The University of Tennessee at Martin is one of the nation’s “Best Value” colleges and universities, according to The Princeton Review.
The Massachusetts-based education services company profiles UT Martin in its just-published book, “The Best Value Colleges: 2012 Edition,” and on the princetonreview.com website.
UT Martin joined the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Vanderbilt University and the University of the South as the only Tennessee universities listed. This marks the first year that UT Martin earned the “Best Value” designation from The Princeton Review.
“Our top priority is to make sure that UT Martin students receive a high-quality education for their investment,” said Dr. Tom Rakes, UT Martin chancellor. “We’re pleased to be the only best-value university in West Tennessee recognized by The Princeton Review.”
Editors at The Princeton Review note in the book profile, “UT Martin offers financial assistance to students based on need, academic achievement, character and leadership ability.” The profile also noted, “Those with top academic credentials can compete for Honors Programs Scholarships, and others who meet established academic criteria are eligible to receive the Tennessee Education Lottery HOPE Scholarship. There is also the respected University Scholars Program for qualified students.”
The Best Value Colleges: 2012 Edition, subtitled “The 150 Best Buy Colleges and What It Takes to Get In,” features profiles of 75 public and 75 private colleges with detailed information about their campus culture, facilities and financial aid offerings. Of the 75 schools in each group, the top-10 colleges are ranked 1 to 10, and the remaining 65 are listed in alphabetical order. The book also has a section with profiles of 10 tuition-free institutions, plus guidance on how to gain admission to the schools.
The Princeton Review selected its “Best Value Colleges” schools based on institutional data and student opinion surveys collected from 650 colleges and universities the company regards as the nation’s academically best undergraduate institutions. The selection process analyzed more than 30 data points broadly covering academics, cost and financial aid.
Cost and financial aid data came from the company’s fall 2011 surveys of school administrators. Data on academics came from itsfall 2010 through fall 2011 surveys of school administrators. Data from students attending the schools over these years included their assessments of their professors and their satisfaction with their financial aid awards.
The Princeton Review debuted its “Best Value Colleges” list in 2004. It previously published an annual book titled “America’s Best Value Colleges” from 2004 to 2007. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University and it is not a magazine.

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