ACU listed in America's 100 Best College Buys; 1999-00
tuition rate announced
For immediate release
March 22, 1999
ABILENE -- Abilene Christian University has been named
one of "America's 100 Best College Buys" for the third
straight year, making it one of only 37 private universities
in the nation to receive this honor determined by the
independent organization Institutional Research and
Evaluation Inc.
ACU has been included in this list since the program's
inception, said Lewis T. Lindsey Jr., president of the
research organization. The list has previously been
published in a book by John Culler & Sons, but no
guidebook will be available this year, Lindsey said.
"It's amazing that these schools can consistently, year
after year, deliver a quality education at a cost that is
within every student's reach," Lindsey wrote in a letter to
ACU. "In the 1998-99 school year, students attending one of
America's 100 Best College Buys saved an average of $2,399
over the national average cost of one year of college."
ACU was one of only five universities in Texas to receive
this honor. The others were Baylor University, Houston
Baptist University, Texas A&M University and the
University of North Texas. Among these Texas institutions,
ACU's entering freshmen had the highest entering grade point
average (3.5 out of 4.0), and the university's freshmen
scored higher than the national average on two different
college entrance exams.
School's listed among "America's 100 Best College Buys"
must provide "the highest quality in education at the lowest
cost," according to the year 2000 report.
Among "America's 100 Best College
Buys" data were these cost comparisons, which includes
tuition, fees, room and board for 1998-99 (click for full
image):
Institutional Research & Evaluation is an independent
research and consulting organization specializing in the
recruiting and retention of students for institutions of
higher education. No college or university pays to be
included in their reports, Lindsey said. Institutions are
included solely on the basis of merit.
ACU has been cited in the past by U.S. News & World
Report as one of the best college values in the nation. The
university's total cost of attendance makes it one of the
most affordable private universities in the nation. In fact,
among similar private universities nationwide, Abilene
Christian ranks in the lowest 20 percent in price, said Dr.
Royce Money, ACU president.
As of June 1, ACU's tuition will increase 6.1 percent,
which will increase it's per-hour cost from $308 to $327,
said Phil Schubert, ACU's chief financial officer. The
university has had similar increases in the past three
years, but continued to remain among the best values in
America, he said.
"The current increase still leaves ACU in the lowest
quartile of price among Masters I institutions across the
country while allowing us to maintain the highest quality
academic instruction in a distinctively Christian
environment," said Schubert.
Money explained that "incremental price increases help us
sustain our commitment to an exceptional academic experience
for students."
In addition to holding the tuition increase to the lowest
possible level, ACU continues to provide students with a
tremendous amount of financial aid, Schubert said. For
1997-98, the university awarded more than $36 million to
students in the form of grants, scholarships, loans and work
study. More than 90 percent of the freshman class received
some form of financial aid.
An on-line college guide produced by Peterson's explains
to families that the cost for higher education has been
increasing 7 to 9 percent each year, and will probably
continue at or near that rate.
In fact, ACU's assistance to students also has been
recognized nationally. Last year, Abilene Christian was
cited as offering "America's Best Scholarships."
"A college does not have to be expensive to be good,"
Lindsey said. "Prospective college students and their
parents should not automatically think that to get a quality
education they must pay a high cost."
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If you are a member of the media who would like more
information about this release, please contact Tom Craig,
director of media and community relations, at craigt@nicanor.acu.edu
or call 915-674-2692.
- Last update: March 23, 1999
- This page is maintained by Tom Craig,
craigt@nicanor.acu.edu.
- http://www.acu.edu/people/news/990322-value.html
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