Dec. 11, 2013 — The University of Utah has been named one of the nation’s 100 best values in public colleges for 2014 by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance in a report released Dec. 11. This is the fourth time the U has appeared on the list.

Featuring schools that deliver a quality education at an affordable price, the report ranked the U at 69 due to its four-year graduation rate, low average student debt at graduation, abundant financial aid, low sticker price and overall great value.

“The Kiplinger’s ranking represents the U’s dedication to offering the best education possible at a reasonable price,” said Mary Parker, associate vice president of Enrollment Management. “With guidance and support by the university’s president, the U has been focused on increasing engaging programs and implementing new initiatives to improve student success and retention, and we are thrilled to be recognized for our efforts.”

To create the rankings, Kiplinger uses data on nearly 600 public, four-year schools and measures academic quality, cost and financial aid. Quality accounts for 55 percent, and cost accounts for 45 percent.

The full list is available here.