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Worth Every Penny: New College Named No. 1 'Best Value' Among Public Schools By the Princeton Review

Posted on: Wednesday, 29 March 2006, 12:01 CST

By Michael Barber, The Bradenton Herald, Fla.

Mar. 29--SARASOTA -- They don't have a basketball team headed to the Final Four, or any other sports teams for that matter, but students and faculty at New College of Florida earned the right Tuesday to claim: "We're No. 1!"

New College was named the No. 1 "best value" among the nation's public colleges Tuesday by the Princeton Review.

The Princeton Review announced the Top 10 best values for both public and private colleges Tuesday morning on CNN to coincide with the release of its book, "America's Best Value Colleges: 2007 Edition."

The book profiles 150 schools considered to be academically strong and affordable. The review used statistical data and student surveys from 646 colleges and universities to compile the list.

Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, was named the best value among private colleges, while the University of North Florida in Jacksonville (No. 5 among public colleges) was the only other Florida college to receive Top 10 recognition.

"Anytime New College gets called a wonderful place in the Princeton Review and on CNN, it's a banner day for the college, the community who supports us and the state," said New College president Gordon Michalson Jr. "We're not doing anything flashy; this is just a reflection of our commitment to the combination of maintaining academic quality at a good value for dollars spent."

Lindsey Gorton, a second-year student from Minnesota, said the Princeton Review made a wise selection.

"It's a well-deserved title," Gorton said. "The value of this school and the scholarships they make available are a major reason why I chose to come to this school."

The Princeton Review's profile of New College states: "Out-of-state tuition is about 40 percent less than the national average for private university tuition -- and you are basically getting a private school education. Low tuition and the distinctive nature of NCF's rigorous, individualized academic program makes it a tremendous value for both in-state and out-of-state students."

The review lauded New College for its unique academic environment, which encourages students to pursue independent study programs; does not assess grades but gives students pass/fail marks with written evaluations from professors; and requires all students to write a senior thesis.

"New College is a very specific kind of school that offers a small, private school feel at a state college price," said Robert Franek, publisher of Princeton Review Books. "It is an uncommon place and could be just the right place for the right student."

New College is no stranger to high rankings from organizations that rate colleges and universities.

In 2005, New College was named the No. 1 best value in public higher education in the Princeton Review's "The Best 257 Colleges."

In 2006, New College was ranked the No. 6 best value by Princeton Review; and also in 2006, Kiplinger's Personal Finance ranked New College as the fifth-best value among public colleges and universities.

First-year New College student Zachariah Neemeh of Tampa sat under a palm tree on the school's Sarasota campus Tuesday afternoon reading George Orwell's "1984." He wasn't aware of the school's newly appointed status, but when told, he agreed with the ranking.

"I would say it makes a lot of sense," Neemeh said. "The education here is very wonderful and the teachers are very dedicated."

Other Florida schools included in the "best value" book, but not ranked, include: Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida State University in Tallahassee, University of Central Florida in Orlando, University of South Florida in Tampa and Webber International University in Babson Park.

In other New College news, the list of candidates to replace retiring provost Charlene Callahan has been narrowed to four. Callahan announced in the fall that she would step down at the end of this academic year to return to teaching.

The four finalists are:

-- Ivelaw Griffith, dean of the Honors College and professor of political science at Florida International University in Miami.

-- Rita Duarte Marinho, dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Towson University in Towson, Md.

-- Samuel Savin, Jesse Earl Hyde professor of geological sciences and former dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

-- Gordon Weil, associate provost and professor of economics at Wheaton College in Norton, Mass.

New College hopes to name a new provost in mid- to late-April, according to Maribeth Clark, chair of New College's Division of Humanities and chair of the provost search committee. The new provost is expected to start in July.

Michael Barber, Herald

reporter, can be reached at mbarber@HeraldToday.com [mailto:mbarber@HeraldToday.com] and 748-0411, ext. 2640.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Bradenton Herald, Fla.

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Source: The Bradenton Herald (Bradenton, Fla.)

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