"I think BYU provides a superb undergraduate experience for its students," Gee said. "It has a limited number but a very distinguished number of professional graduate programs, so it is a substantial university with all the resources of a great university, but it still focuses on the quality of its undergraduate experience, which is highly unusual."

This is the third year the Princeton Review has ranked the country's schools on value. Last year, the book included 81 schools, including BYU and the U. This year, the book expanded to 150 schools. Franek said adding three more Utah schools was warranted.

"We think Westminster is a gem of a liberal arts school," he said.

Franek noted that SUU graduates leave school with an average of $11,400 in debt.

"That is a smokin' deal," he said. "When you get close to the $10,000 mark, that's pretty compelling."

Each school's profile can be viewed for free at www.princetonreview.com.

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E-mail: twalch@desnews.com