U.S. News thinks highly of Utah universities

Utah universities once again earned recognition for some of the lowest student debt in the nation, while also earning spots for best overall universities in the 2007 U.S. News & World Report rankings.

The rankings will be published in the Aug. 28 issue of U.S. News & World Report, which hits newsstands Monday and ranks about 1,400 four-year accredited colleges and universities by mission and region.

BYU ranked 70th on the list of best national universities, up one slot from last year, while the U. remained 120th. BYU, Utah and Utah State fall in the category of national universities, which includes schools that offer a full range of undergraduate majors, plus master's and doctoral degrees.

Salt Lake's Westminster College also earned a No. 20 spot for Western schools offering master's degrees but not doctoral programs.

Princeton took the top spot in this year's rankings, finally breaking a three-year tie for first place with Harvard. Yale took the No. 3 spot.

The formula for the rankings includes graduation and retention rates, faculty and financial resources, and the percentage of alumni donating money to their alma mater. The biggest single variable is a reputation assessment by peer institutions.

Four of Utah's institutions made the list for lowest debt burden among graduates with Utah Valley State College in Orem ranking first in least debt among comprehensive colleges in the West.

According to the magazine, only 54 percent of UVSC graduates have debt. The average debt at UVSC is $9,046.

"I do know our tuition is significantly lower than the national average, so that may have something to do with it," college spokeswoman Megan Laurie said. "You know, I think there are a lot of different factors that play into it, from the fact that the kids in Utah are raised to think fiscally responsibly. But I do believe our scholarship and financial aid office does a lot to help students get grants and federal student aid."

A report released Tuesday by the Utah System of Higher Education indicated that as UVSC transitions from a college to a university, tuition will increase by an estimated total of $10 million. Higher education commissioner Richard Kendell said he expects the Legislature to shoulder most of the cost, not students.

Utah State University also earned a seventh-place spot for least loan debt, and the U. came in 11th with 45 percent of students graduating with debt with an average burden of $12,806.