August 12, 2010

Troy University ranked top in the state by Forbes

TROY – Forbes Magazine has ranked Troy University the state’s leading institution of higher education in its third annual “America’s Best Colleges” list released this week and ranked TROY 16th nationally on its “America’s Best College Buys” list.

Last year, the University was ranked as the state’s top public institution.

The survey, conducted jointly with the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, included 600 institutions nationwide, and based its rankings on student evaluations, graduates’ success, student debt loads and graduation rates.

This year, Troy University was ranked number 237 of the 600 colleges surveyed, making it the only institution in Alabama—public or private— ranked in the top 250.

The “Best Buy” ranking considered the quality score, average “sticker price” tuition and fees and, excluded any institution that had an actual four-year graduation rate lower than 20 percent. Included in the list are the country’s military service academies and some private colleges that effectively charge no tuition for attendance. Excluding those institutions, TROY would rank eighth nationally on the “best buy” list.

“We were thrilled by the announcement by Forbes Magazine that Troy University has been recognized as the best university in the state of Alabama inclusive of the publics and the privates. Beyond that we were also proud to be ranked 16th nationally on its best college buy list,” said Dr. Jack Hawkins Jr., Chancellor of Troy University.

“Troy University has always been known as a quality-driven institution, but one, too, that is accessible, and accessibility reflects affordability in so
many ways. We work hard at being good stewards to be sure the students get a quality experience for their investment of time and resources,” he said.

Dr. Hawkins said that personal attention for students, overall student satisfaction, campus safety and a “fun environment” contributed to Forbes rankings, but that the two rankings reflect the efforts of faculty, staff, students and alumni within the University.

“The bottom line is that Alabama has invested in this institution and, in turn, I believe the ranking by Forbes reflects the quality of that investment. It’s a great day for Alabama,” he said.

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