University named to The Princeton Review's list of Best Value Colleges for 2013
Virginia Tech is again included among the "best value" public universities, according to The Princeton Review Best Value Colleges for 2013.
The list, which features a total of 150 schools, includes 75 public and 75 private colleges and universities. Of the 75 schools chosen in each category, the top 10 are ranked one to 10, and the remaining 65 are listed in alphabetical order and unranked.
The Princeton Review and its partner USA TODAY selected the institutions as its "best value" choices for 2013 based on its surveys of administrators and students at more than 650 public and private colleges and universities. More than 30 data points were considered covering academics, costs, and financial aid. Institutions were evaluated using data provided by each school as well as opinion data collected from students at each school.
To earn a place on the list, a school must be academically outstanding. It must also offer a low-ticket price, generous financial aid to offset costs, or both.
“It is important to offer an outstanding education to our students without the burden of excessive financial strain both during school and after graduation,” said Daniel Wubah, vice president for undergraduate education and deputy provost. “We are able to meet that need through competitive tuition and fees coupled with scholarships, grants, and other aid, especially for students who demonstrate financial need.”
Annual tuition and fees for undergraduates at Virginia Tech remains low at $10,923 for in-state students and $25,915 for out-of-state students. Students also save money and time towards degree completion through special sessions. The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors approved a 10 percent reduction for summer session enrollment compared to regular session hourly rates beginning in summer 2013 on a pilot program basis.
Virginia Tech continues to increase its affordability for students by increasing funding for student financial aid. During the 2011-12 academic year, the Office of University Scholarships and Financial Aid awarded $414 million in aid, impacting more than 60 percent of Virginia Tech students.
The office awarded its fourth cohort of students with the Presidential Scholarship Initiative, bringing the program to full capacity. The renewable, four-year scholarships reward academically talented students who have shown persistence and a commitment to academic excellence.
Presidential Campus Enrichment Awards are given to attract students with diverse backgrounds to enhance campus climate and contribute to the institution’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Virginia Tech students have access to a range of undergraduate programs that enhance their college experience, without additional cost. In some cases, students receive a stipend to support undergraduate research opportunities such as Scieneering, Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships, and Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), among others.
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.
