Contact: Kenneth Billings
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Forbes magazine is ranking Mississippi State among the top 20 of its top 100 best college buys in America.
As ranked Aug. 5 in the national business publication's online edition, the university is given a higher designation than all other Mississippi public and private institutions of higher learning.
The 131-year-old land-grant institution also is the state's only public university included in the top 100.
Forbes said MSU is 18th among schools where students "get the most quality for each tuition dollar spent."
"Mississippi State is committed to providing an outstanding, affordable education for our students," said university President Mark Keenum in response to the magazine's report.
"To be recognized by such a reputable publication confirms that we are succeeding in our goal of being the premier education center for the state of Mississippi," Keenum added.
The Forbes "best buy" formula divides a school's overall quality score, as determined by the methodology for ranking colleges, by the tuition rate for the 2003-04 to 2006-07 academic years, after allowances for scholarships.
Mississippi College and Millsaps College, both religious-affiliated private institutions, were at 24th and 39th, respectively, on the 2009 list.
MSU's fall semester classes begin Aug. 17.
The complete Forbes list is available at www.forbes.com/2009/08/02/best-buys-colleges-opinions-value.html?partner=links.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.