Want to know the single best measure of quality and affordability?
Look to a college’s four-year graduation rate. This number measures a college's ability to get students the classes and academic support they need to succeed in their education; it also measures the college's ability to deliver that education on time and on budget.
The following ten public institutions excel at this key measure, besting the national average for public colleges (29.9%) by 38 to 55 percentage points.
(Note: Throughout this slide show, "total cost" is an annual total including tuition, room and board, and supplies.)
1. University of Virginia
Undergraduate enrollment: 15,595
Four-year graduation rate: 85%
Six-year graduation rate: 93%
Total in-state cost: $21,626
Total out-of-state cost: $45,948
Average debt at graduation: $19,384
Designed as an "Academical Village" by Thomas Jefferson, UVA not only provides an environment that makes for happy campers (96% of freshmen return for sophomore year), but it also helps students get their degree on time. UVA's four-year graduation rate (85%) is the highest among our top-100 best values. Ironically, Jefferson prized education but considered degrees to be "artificial embellishments." UVA did not award bachelor's degrees until 1849, 30 years after its founding.
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2. College of William and Mary
Undergraduate enrollment: 5,898
Four-year graduation rate: 82%
Six-year graduation rate: 90%
Total in-state cost: $23,054
Total out-of-state cost: $45,331
Average debt at graduation: $21,367
Students begin their tenure at William and Mary by walking through the portico of the historic Sir Christopher Wren building, and they conclude it on graduation day by ringing the ceremonial Wren bell. An impressive 82% of students get from portico to bell within four years thanks to W&M's strong academic support, which includes a low (12-1) student-faculty ratio.
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3. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Undergraduate enrollment: 18,579
Four-year graduation rate: 76%
Six-year graduation rate: 90%
Total in-state cost: $17,628
Total out-of-state cost: $37,454
Average debt at graduation: $16,165
Add grad rate to the list of measures at which Carolina excels; its four-year grad rate is more than twice the average rate (29.9%) for full-time students at public colleges. Carolina's stellar record across the board -- which also includes moderate cost and generous financial aid ($11,080 in need-based aid a year, on average) -- has made this flagship institution the number-one school in our overall rankings 11 times in a row.
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4. St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Undergraduate enrollment: 1,982
Four-year graduation rate: 74%
Six-year graduation rate: 77%
Total in-state cost: $26,360
Total out-of-state cost: $38,437
Average debt at graduation: $17,505
Designated an honors college in 1992, this small, liberal arts institution outperforms its Maryland counterparts, including the flagship University of Maryland in College Park, on grad rates and student-faculty ratio (12-1). The college not only nurtures students on their way to a degree but also encourages them to explore the world before graduation. Nearly half of the most recent graduating class studied abroad.
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5. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Undergraduate enrollment: 27,027
Four-year graduation rate: 72%
Six-year graduation rate: 88%
Total in-state cost: $23,953
Total out-of-state cost: $49,625
Average debt at graduation: $27,828
This research university attracts top students -- half of incoming freshmen scored 30 or higher on the ACT -- and supports them with peer and faculty mentoring; all Michigan students benefit from a strong advisory program. The payoff: 96% of students return after freshman year, and three-fourths of undergraduates pick up their diploma within four years.
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6. College of New Jersey
Undergraduate enrollment: 6,460
Four-year graduation rate: 71%
Six-year graduation rate: 86%
Total in-state cost: $25,564
Total out-of-state cost: $35,373
Average debt at graduation: $27,057
Small classes and a collaborative learning environment (students can choose housing based on their academic focus) contribute to strong grad rates for this liberal arts college, located near Trenton, N.J. Once a teachers' college, the school offers more than 50 undergraduate degrees in seven schools, including engineering, science and business.
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7. University of California, Berkeley
Total undergraduate enrollment: 25,540
Four-year graduation rate: 69%
Six-year graduation rate: 91%
Total in-state cost: $29,027
Total out-of-state cost: $51,905
Average debt at graduation: $16,056
This elite public school, which posts the most competitive admit rate on our list (22%), also excels at keeping students engaged and on track: 97% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Although the sticker price is high compared with other public colleges, UC-Berkeley's strong grad rate means that more than two-thirds of students are spared the cost of a fifth or sixth year.
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8. University of California, Los Angeles
Undergraduate enrollment: 26,162
Four-year graduation rate: 68%
Six-year graduation rate: 90%
Total in-state cost: $28,174
Total out-of-state cost: $51,052
Average debt at graduation: $16,733
As with UC-Berkeley, UCLA charges top dollar for a public school but gets its students across the finish line expeditiously, saving them money on the back end. During their undergraduate career, students get to share classrooms with other outstanding students, learn from Nobel Prize winners, enjoy the opportunities of a world-class research institution and sample the myriad attractions of L.A.
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9. University of Mary Washington
Undergraduate enrollment: 4,354
Four-year graduation rate: 68%
Six-year graduation rate: 75%
Total in-state cost: $18,706
Total out-of-state cost: $30,434
Average debt at graduation: $15,600
Located between Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Va., this century-old institution started out as a teachers' college for women, then became the women's college of the University of Virginia and finally arrived at its current status as an independent, co-ed university. Mary Washington's four-year grad rate reflects its small classes and emphasis on teaching. More than 90% of its professors have their doctorate or are fully credentialed in their field; the college does not use teaching assistants.
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10. Miami University (Ohio)
Undergraduate enrollment: 14,872
Four-year graduation rate: 68%
Six-year graduation rate: 80%
Total in-state cost: $25,393
Total out-of-state cost: $40,565
Average debt at graduation: $27,315
This liberal arts institution gives undergraduates the opportunity to work with senior faculty on research and invites high-performing students to participate in an honors program tailored to their goals. It also offers plenty of support through the Rinella Learning Center, which provides individual and group tutoring, help with study skills and a program for learning disabilities.
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