College rises four spots on top personal finance magazine list, based on academic quality and affordability

 For the eighth consecutive year, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance has included Marist on its list of the country’s best values in private colleges, where the College moved up four spots to 58th. Kiplinger’s annual list ranks 100 private universities and 100 liberal arts colleges. The full list is available online now at www.kiplinger.com/links/college.

Marist and the other schools included in the 2014 lists represent the colleges that provide high-quality academics at a reasonable cost during these continued tough economic times. The colleges exemplify the attributes parents and students look for in higher education, including small class sizes, a good freshman retention rate and a high four-year graduation rate.

"With President Obama’s recent emphasis on rating colleges and universities based on their value, our rankings serve as a valuable resource to help students and families make more informed choices," says Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. “Combining a high-quality education with an affordable price tag is a challenge, but the colleges on this year's list offer the best of both worlds."

"With college costs of increasing concern to students and their families, I am particularly proud that Marist is again being recognized for its academic excellence and affordability by one of the most trusted names in personal finance," said Marist President Dennis J. Murray. "The College’s place on this list affirms what the success of our students and alumni already tells us about the value of a Marist education."

Kiplinger’s rankings measure academic quality and affordability. Academic criteria include the student admission rate (the number of students accepted out of those who apply), the test scores of incoming freshmen, the ratio of students to faculty members, and the four- and five-year graduation rates. On the cost side, Kiplinger’s measures the sticker price, the availability and average amount of need-based and merit-based financial aid, and the average student debt at graduation. Many of the schools on the top 200 list have appeared in Kiplinger’s rankings in previous years, demonstrating that these schools consistently deliver good value.

About Marist College

Located on the river in the historic Hudson River Valley and at its Florence, Italy branch campus, Marist College is a comprehensive, independent institution grounded in the liberal arts. Its mission is to “help students develop the intellect, character, and skills required for enlightened, ethical, and productive lives in the global community of the 21st century.” In addition to Kiplinger’s, Marist is consistently recognized for excellence by other top ranking organizations like U.S. News & World Report (10th Best Regional University/North), The Princeton Review (“The Best 378 Colleges”), and others. Though now independent, Marist remains committed to the ideals handed down from its founders, the Marist Brothers: excellence in education, a sense of community, and a commitment to service. Marist educates 4,500 traditional-age undergraduate students and over 1,400 adult and graduate students in 44 undergraduate majors and 12 graduate programs, including fully online MBA, MPA, MS, and MA degrees.

About Kiplinger

For nine decades, the Kiplinger organization has led the way in personal finance and business forecasting. Founded in 1920 by W.M. Kiplinger, the company developed one of the nation's first successful newsletters in modern times. The Kiplinger Letter, launched in 1923, remains the longest continuously published newsletter in the United States. In 1947, Kiplinger created the nation's first personal finance magazine. Kiplinger.com is the fastest growing Web site in the personal finance space. Located in the heart of our nation's capital, the Kiplinger editors remain dedicated to delivering sound, unbiased advice for your family and your business in clear, concise language. Become a fan of Kiplinger on Facebook or Kiplinger.com and follow Kiplinger on Tumblr and Twitter.