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Five CWPA Institutions Rank on Kiplinger's List of Top 10 Values in Liberal Arts Colleges
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Five current Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) collegiate club institutions are listed among Kiplinger's List of Top 10 Values in Liberal Arts Colleges.
Pomona College, Washington & Lee University and Swarthmore College top the list, with Williams College (men's/women's collegiate club) and Davidson College completing the Top Five teams in Kiplinger's rankings.
CWPA institutions dominate the remainder of the Top 10 with Hamilton College (men's collegiate club), Vassar College, Wellesley College (women's collegiate club), Bowdoin College (men's/women's collegiate club) and Amherst College (men's collegiate club).
Kiplinger's List of
Top 10 Values (Liberal Arts)
1. Pomona College
2. Washington & Lee University
3. Swarthmore College
4. Williams College
5. Davidson College
6. Hamilton College
7. Vassar College
8. Wellesley College
9. Bowdoin College
10. Amherst College
Kiplinger's explains how it calculates its rankings:
Kiplinger's bases its rankings on a combination of academics and affordability. We start with data from more than 500 public four-year schools, provided by Peterson's/Nelnet, then add our own reporting.
To assess costs, we look at the total expenses for in-state students (tuition, mandatory fees, room and board, and books); the average cost for a student with need after subtracting grants (but not loans); the average cost for a student without need after subtracting non-need-based grants; the average percentage of need met by aid; the percentage of students who borrow; and the average debt per student borrower at graduation.
To determine out-of-state rankings, we run the academic-quality and expense numbers again, this time using total costs for out-of-state residents and average costs after financial aid.
Our rankings focus on traditional four-year schools with broad-based curricula. As a result, schools that offer great value but focus on special or narrow academic programs, such as the military service academies, are excluded. Cornell University, best known as a member of the Ivy League, is another exception. Four of Cornell's colleges are part of the privately endowed university, which we consider a private institution. But three of Cornell's undergraduate colleges are land-grant state schools that cost much less -- about $25,000 a year for tuition and fees.
How We Calculate Value
Cost and financial aid (33%): We consider low sticker prices, generous need-based aid, and percentage of need met (the extent to which financial aid bridges the gap between the family’s expected contribution and the cost of attendance).
Student indebtedness (14%): With student borrowing on the rise, we now give extra points for low average debt at graduation and low percentage of students who borrow.
Competitiveness (22%): High test scores among incoming freshmen, a low admission rate and a high yield (the percentage of accepted applicants who enroll) indicate selectivity and intellectual synergy.
Graduation rates (18%): The sooner your kid gets a diploma, the more money you save. We give maximum points for the four-year graduation rate and half that amount for a strong six-year rate.
Academic support (13%): The number of students per faculty and the freshman retention rate measure the school’s ability to support its academic mission.
Information courtesy Kiplinger.com
