WASHINGTON — Saint Mary’s University was rated the third best college value in the Minnesota in the latest ranking by the magazine U.S. News & World Report. The rating gave Saint Mary’s bragging rights over cross-town Winona State, which had led Minnesota colleges for several years and built its recruiting campaigns spiels around it. This year Winona State was fifth. US News & World Report uses 17 academic metrics to balance cost and academic quality. Metrics include alumni salaries, financial aid, ease of application, admission test scores, intramurals and clubs, and housing options.
Best value in Minnesota
Hamline: First in Minnesota, 12th in Upper Midwest, $45,400 tuition and fees.
Augsburg: Second, 24th, $41,000.
Saint Mary’s: Third, 34th, $29,000.
UM-Duluth: Fourth, 41st, $13,850.
Winona State: Fourth, 41st (tie), $9,700 instate.
Northwestern of St. Paul: Fifth, 46th, $34,180.
MSU-Mankato: Sixth, 79th, $9,100 instate.
Bemidji State: Seventh, 88th, $9,100 instate.
Concordia of St. Paul: Eighth, 88th (tie), $23,900.
MSU-Moorhead: Ninth, 88th (tie), $9,400 instate.
St. Cloud State: 10th, 96th, $9,100 instate.
Quantification quandary. Another attempt to bring precision to qualitative questions.