ASU listed as a best value by Kiplinger’s

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine has released its 2012 Best Values in Public Colleges issue, and once again Appalachian State University is among the top 50 public institutions.

When comparing affordability based on tuition, fees, room and board and financial aid, Appalachian was ranked 33rd for in-state students, based on 2011-12 data.

Other UNC system schools on the list are UNC Chapel Hill, which was ranked first for both in-state and out-of-state costs; UNC Wilmington, which was ranked 15th for in-state costs; and N.C. State University, which ranked 19th.

Also on the list are the UNC School of the Arts, ranked 41st for in-state costs, and UNC Asheville, ranked 45th for in-state costs.

According to data provided to the magazine, undergraduate tuition, fees, room and board cost $13,048 for the 2010-11 academic year. The cost after factoring in need-based aid (in-state) was $6,113. The average debt for a graduating student was $16,130.

Schools on the list were selected from a pool of more than 500 public four-year colleges and universities. The complete rankings are available at http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/best-values-in-public-colleges-2012.html.