SHSU Ranks Among Top Colleges For Value

July 26, 2013
SHSU Media Contact: Julia May

Sam Houston State University has been ranked No. 115 among the “top 150 best colleges for the money” nationwide by College Factual, a new site that uses customizable outcomes-based tools and rankings systems to guide students through the college selection process.

The university was sixth in Texas and eighth in the Southwest in the “best colleges for the money” rankings.

SHSU’s rank reflects the institution's academic quality and economic value, based on the cost of obtaining an undergraduate degree. A number of outcomes-based factors were used to determine this ranking, such as average student loan debt per student, loan default rates, how well the institution retains and graduates students, and graduates' starting salaries and earning potential.

“Sam Houston State University has a long tradition of providing outstanding educational opportunities at a good value to our students,” said SHSU President Dana Gibson.

“We continually monitor career trends to make sure we offer those academic programs that will benefit our students and make them more desirable in the work force. We have a dedicated faculty and staff, unique undergraduate research opportunities, extracurricular activities and service opportunities for students, all of which contribute to making Sam Houston State University a great value in education,” she said.

College Factual's ranking system is based on a series of algorithms that include information from the Department of Education, nationally mandated data reporting for institutions, and pay scale.

"We publish rankings to get students and parents thinking about key factors they need to consider when choosing a college," says Bill Phelan, CEO of College Factual. "How long will it take you to graduate? How much debt will you incur? How much money will you make? We highlight important factors such as these in our rankings to help build personalized lists, which is the ultimate goal in any college selection process."

For more information about College Factual's best colleges for your money rankings, visit their website.

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