Another national college and university ranking has placed Fresno Pacific University on its “Best Value” list.
U.S. News & World Report rated FPU at number 41 as a best value in its category—Regional Universities-West—for 2018, which includes 141 schools. The university’s overall ranking is also number 41.
“Quality and affordability are extremely important to FPU. Many of our students are the first in their families to attend college or university, and we want to do all we can to help them succeed and go on to improve their lives and their communities,” said Jon Endicott, vice president of enrollment management.
According to U.S. News, “best value” calculations are based on academic quality and net cost of attendance for students who receive the average level of need-based financial aid. “The higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal.” Only schools ranked in or near the top half of their categories are considered for “best value.”
Regional universities offer a full range of undergraduate programs and some master’s programs but few doctoral programs. The rankings are divided into North, South, Midwest and West regions.
Washington Monthly also rated FPU number 32 on its latest “Best Bang for Your Buck-West” ranking. The list measures “the extent to which they charge students who aren’t rich a reasonable price for a quality education that will advance them in their careers,” according to the magazine’s website. Top-ranked schools succeed at enrolling low-income students and helping them graduate and find good jobs.