UC San Diego Named to Princeton Review’s List of Best Value Colleges for 2013

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The University of California, San Diego, is one of the nation’s “best value” colleges and universities, according to The Princeton Review. The education services company profiled UC San Diego in its book, “The Best Value Colleges: 2013 Edition.”

The best value guide, subtitled “The 150 Best-Buy Colleges and What It Takes to Get In,” profiles 75 public and 75 private colleges The Princeton Review designated as “best values” based on assessments that examined more than 30 data points covering academics, cost and financial aid.

“It’s an honor to have UC San Diego’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion recognized by the Princeton Review,” said UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “Moving forward we will continue to ensure UC San Diego’s doors of opportunity are open to students of all backgrounds.”

In its profile of UC San Diego, the book’s editors praised the school for its “bang for your buck.”

According to Ann Klein, director of UC San Diego’s Financial Aid Office, UC San Diego is dedicated to remaining accessible and affordable. “We are pleased to have UC San Diego again named a ‘best value’ college by the Princeton Review,” Klein said. “More than half of our diverse student body receives need-based support––we offer a robust financial aid program to help families pay for college.”

Robert Franek, The Princeton Review senior vice president and publisher said, “We commend UC San Diego and all of our extraordinary 2013 ‘best value’ colleges for their stellar academics and for all they are doing to make their colleges affordable, especially for applicants with need in these tough economic times.”

The Princeton Review editors also commended the University of California’s Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan which covers students’ UC fees if they are California residents and their families earn $80,000 or less.

The Review profile lauded UC San Diego for its many resources and opportunities including the university’s innovative research, idyllic location and excellent reputation.

In addition, it highlighted UC San Diego’s academically rigorous, yet socially vibrant campus environment. Students surveyed by The Princeton Review described their college experience as very engaging.  One student wrote, “There is always something to do on campus and it is always changing! I never get bored!”

Another student summed up the dynamism of UC San Diego with the following: “My school is all about science and the beach….and [its] fine public transit system makes downtown San Diego very accessible.”

The Princeton Review chose the 150 schools from 650 colleges and universities at which it conducted institutional and student surveys for this project in 2011-12.

USA Today, the Review’s publishing partner for this project since 2009, has posted the company’s 2013 list and an exclusive database of “best value” colleges at a special area of USATODAY.com: http://bestvaluecolleges.usatoday.com.