KNOXVILLE — Now more than ever, parents and students want strong academics at an affordable price when it comes to choosing a college education.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, offers just that according to The Princeton Review’s “Best Value Colleges for 2010” list released today, which ranks the university among the 50 best values in higher education in the country.
The Princeton Review ranks American colleges based on undergraduate academics, affordability and financial aid for the “best value” list. The 50 public and 50 private colleges and universities were selected from among more than 650 public and private colleges and universities.
“We are proud to be nationally recognized for the value that a UT Knoxville education provides to students,” said Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek. “From our merit and need-based scholarship programs to the support we give to help students maintain their scholarships and achieve, we deliver a first-rate academic and collegiate experience at a great value.”
The Princeton Review is a New York City-based education services company known for its test-prep courses, college and graduate school admission services, books and education programs. The company is also known for its annual college, business and law school rankings.
The Princeton Review describes UT Knoxville’s “dynamic campus” as having a “vibrant academic atmosphere located in one of the country’s best and most eclectic college towns.” Several of UT Knoxville’s nationally recognized programs are mentioned, including business administration and education. The profile also highlights the campus’ research facilities as being “among the best in the country” and that with such a diverse student life, “everyone is bound to find his or her own niche.”
UT Knoxville also is recognized for strong financial aid support.
The HOPE Scholarship is available to Tennessee high school graduates who earn at least a 21 on their ACT and have an overall weighted grade-point average of 3.0 or better. About 95 percent of UT Knoxville’s in-state freshmen received the HOPE Scholarship in 2009.
In recent years, UT Knoxville has created several need-based scholarship programs that supplement the HOPE Scholarship and help ensure that money isn’t a stumbling block for academically eligible students who want to attend.
The Tennessee Pledge scholarships help students from low-income families attend the university and allow those students to graduate debt-free by paying for mandatory college costs not covered by other federal or state aid. The Tennessee Promise scholarships target students from high schools that have not traditionally sent many of their graduates to UT Knoxville.
In addition, the university has launched the “Achieve the Dream” program that makes grant money available to Tennessee students from lower-middle-income families whose incomes are too high to qualify them for Pell grants or the Pledge scholarship, but who still need financial help with college costs.
Again this year, The Princeton Review teamed up with USA Today to present its “best value” colleges list. Previously, the list was reported on its Web site and in its book, “America’s Best Value Colleges.”
The Best Value Colleges for 2010 rankings are available online.
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C O N T A C T :
Kristi Hintz (865-974-3993, khintz@utk.edu)