Welcome to

A year end review of the nation’s best value universities is out and five Florida schools are on the list. As Whitney Ray tells us, low tuition and the governor’s pledge to keep it that way could help more Florida schools make the list in 2013.

A meeting of the minds, after winning over lawmakers, UF and FSU were just a signature away from being able to raise tuition above the yearly 15 percent cap.

“If I’m losing faculty it’s harder for our students to have classes and it slows down their ability to finish. That’s a waste of state dollars and that’s a waste of student dollars,” said FSU President Dr. Eric Barron during an April meeting with the governor over the preeminence bill.

They tried to convince Governor Rick Scott to sign the bill, but in the end Scott stuck to his guns.

“You want to make sure that families in the state can afford a great education,” Scott said following the meeting.

Scott crushed the schools hopes with a veto in April. Then in June, for the first time in nearly four years, tuition increases statewide stayed below the 15 percent max.

The governor’s tough stance on tuition may now be paying off, at least in one ranking. A year end review of the best value universities in the nation ranked five Florida universities in the top 100.

Kiplinger, a DC based financial forecaster, ranked schools based on graduation rates, academic support, access to financial aid and tuition.

UF Ranked highest in Florida at number three, New College made the top 10 at number seven and FSU is the 26th best value school in the country. UCF and UNF also made the list. Absent from the list were FAMU, FAU, FGCU, FIU, USF and UWF.

More Florida schools could make the list next year. Florida’s public universities have vowed no tuition increases in 2013, as long as state lawmakers fund their budgets.

Governor Responds to Rankings

“We need to keep costs low for students and parents, while ensuring schools give students the best possible preparation to continue their studies or start a career. There are two key factors that make up the value of a higher education degree – affordability and results. To have a great value you need both,” Scott said in a written statement.

FSU Responds to Ranking

“We are pleased with this latest recognition. Florida State University continues to be an excellent value. By all accounts, we are one of the most efficient and effective universities in the United States,” said FSU Barron in a email released after the ranking were published.