For the third consecutive year, the Princeton Review and USA Today have named SUNY Oswego one of 75 “Best Value” public colleges in the nation.
The list of 75 public and 75 private institutions appears in the book “The Best Value Colleges: The 150 Best-Buy Schools and What It Takes to Get In,” published by Random House and the Princeton Review, as well as on USA Today’s website at bestvaluecolleges.usatoday.com.
“SUNY Oswego is an outstanding college and value for our students, and it is particularly rewarding when a reputable source such as the Princeton Review agrees,” said Dan Griffin, director of admissions at Oswego.
“It speaks to our commitment to our students’ education, their development and the amazing variety of in-demand majors and experiences we offer. Particularly as higher education costs seem to escalate each year, to be recognized as a ‘Best Value’ means a lot to our students and their families.”
Based on cost and other data for 2013-14 and student interviews, the book’s report on SUNY Oswego includes a “bottom line” section quoting one student who said the college provides “a great education for the money” and citing the Oswego Guarantee.
The guarantee states, in part, that a student’s room and board expenses on campus will remain constant for four consecutive years. Last fall, SUNY Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley sweetened the pledge, adding a “Graduation ROI” that provides a $300 return on a student’s investment for graduating in four years or less.
SUNY Oswego also offers about $84 million annually in merit scholarships, need-based grants, loans, work-study and other financial aid.
Opportunities galore
In the Princeton Review’s section titled “Why students love State University of New York-Oswego,” those surveyed reported there is a “friendly and helpful” atmosphere on a campus that’s devoted to promoting multiculturalism on its “gorgeous” lakeside site.
Students say the nearly 200 clubs and organizations offer networking, socializing, activities and involvement opportunities galore, the publication reported.
Among the 13 SUNY comprehensive colleges, Geneseo and Purchase joined Oswego on the best-value list.
“We salute these colleges for their outstanding academics and affordability either via their comparatively low sticker prices or generous financial aid awards to students with need — or both,” said Robert Franek, the Princeton Review’s senior vice president and publisher.
A 153-year-old college on the shore of Lake Ontario, Oswego offers more than 100 programs of study in its four academic units: the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Communication, Media and the Arts, and School of Education.
The Princeton Review is a Massachusetts-based education services company known for its college rankings. SUNY Oswego has appeared in every edition of the company’s “The Best Northeastern Colleges,” and Oswego’s School of Business appears each year in its “Best Business Schools.”
