WMU News

WMU named 'Best College Buy'

May 20, 1997

KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University has been named one of the 100 best college buys in the United States by a new publication that rates America's colleges and universities.

"The Student Guide to America's 100 Best College Buys" profiles the schools that are the highest rated academically but have the lowest total cost for the college year.

Compiled by Institutional Research and Evaluation of Gainesville, Ga., the guide not only lists the 100 best college buys, but also gives complete information on each school, including cost, sources of financial aid, majors offered and details on campus life.

A total of 1,784 colleges and universities were examined for the book. To be considered, they had to: be an accredited, four-year institution; offer full residential facilities, including residence halls and dining services; provide opportunities to qualified students for need-based, academic-based and athletic-based financial aid; have had an entering freshman class in fall 1995 with a high school grade point average and/or SAT/ACT score above the national average for entering freshmen; and have had a cost of attendance in 1996-97 below the national average.

WMU's 1995 freshman class ACT score was 22, above the national average of 21. Its grade point average was 3.23, higher than the national figure of 3.03. The 1996-97 cost of attendance (tuition and fees for 30 hours and room and board) was $7,497 per year for in-state students and $11,815 for out-of-state students, well below the national average of $13,409.

The schools selected represent 40 states. Other Michigan institutions included besides WMU are Grand Valley State University, Michigan Technological University and Oakland University.

"The Student Guide to America's 100 Best College Buys" was published by John Culler & Sons of Camden, S.C.


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