SRU scores 47 College Factual 'badges of distinction'
Photo by Joey Anzalone, a junior communication: digital media major from New Castle.
Sept. 7, 2017
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Slippery Rock University has earned 47 badges of distinction including 32 "best" designations ranging from "Best for the Money" in Pennsylvania to "Best for the Money without Aid" nationwide from College Factual, a data-driven college choice resource, in ratings released in USA Today.
According to Bill Phelan, chief executive officer and co-founder of College Factual, the rankings system is based on a series of algorithms that include information from the Department of Education, nationally mandated data reporting for institutions and PayScale.
College Factual awards badges to those universities that finish in the top one percent, five percent, 10 percent and 15 percent of each of the categories being evaluated. SRU earned eight badges in the top five percent; 17 badges in the top 10 percent; and 22 in the top 15 percent.
SRU was in the top five percent in the overall categories of:
-"Best for the Money without Aid" (nationwide)
-"Best for the Money without Aid" (Middle Atlantic)
-"Best for the Money without Aid" in Pennsylvania
SRU was in the 10 percent in the overall categories of:
-"Best for the Money" (nationwide)
-"Best for the Money" (Middle Atlantic)
-"Best for the Money" in Pennsylvania
-"Best for the Money with Aid" (nationwide)
-"Best for the Money with Aid" (Middle Atlantic)
-"Best for the Money with Aid" in Pennsylvania
The University also had three fields of study and majors recognized in the top five percent. These were:
-"Best Value" - Special education
-"Best Value" - Health professions
-"Best Value" - Parks, recreation, leisure and fitness studies
-"Most Popular" - Special education
-"Most Focused" - Special education
Ten fields of study and majors were recognized in the top 10 percent including:
-"Best Value" - Computer and information sciences
-"Most Popular" - Engineering technologies
-"Most Popular" - Quality control technology
-"Best Value" - General English literature
-"Most Popular" - Health professions
-"Best Value" - Public health
-"Best Value" - History (2)
-"Most Popular" - Interdisciplinary studies
-"Best Value" - Social work
-"Best Value" - Visual and performing arts
The University earned 22 badges for ranking in the top 15 percent of all programs. Fields of study and majors earning badges were:
-"Most Popular" - Business, management and marketing
-"Best Value" - Communication and journalism
-"Best Value" - Computer information systems
-"Most Value" - Education
-"Most Popular" - Education
-"Best Value" - English language and literature
-"Most Popular" - Health sciences and services
-"Best Value" - Nursing
-"Most Popular" - Public health
-"Most Focused" - Public health
-"Most Popular" - History (2)
-"Best Value" - Mathematics and statistics (2)
-"Most Popular" - Multi/interdisciplinary studies
-"Best Value" - Health and physical education
-"Best Value" - Physical sciences
-"Best Value" - Geological and earth sciences
-"Best Value" - Psychology
-"Best Value" - Public administration and social service
-"Best Value" - Social sciences
-"Most Focused" - Geography and cartography
"Many college rankings focus highly on inputs, such as student test scores, and often include subjective elements such as surveys. College Factual rankings are different as they focus highly on outputs, such as graduation rates and student loan default rates," said Phelan.
These rankings differ from other lists and, according to Phelan, it's for good reason. Instead of burying methodology in fine print at the bottom of the list, College Factual puts theirs up front. Freshman retention rates, the number of full-time teachers and student loan default rates are all key components in the final rankings.
"We also rank colleges on many different aspects of the education they provide, from overall quality, to best value, to best for a specific major. At the end of the day though we want students to go beyond just rankings to discover colleges that are a great match for them all-around."
"We couldn't be happier to see so many of our majors and fields of study recognized yet again through the College Factual rankings," said Philip Way, SRU interim president. "Our faculty and staff work very hard to ensure that our students receive a 'Rock Solid' education in order to prepare them not only for a future career, but for life. I believe these accolades are proof positive that we are accomplishing just that."
In addition to earning 23 "Best Value" ratings from College Factual, the University has also been cited as a "Best Value University" in the nation by MONEY magazine.
MEDIA CONTACT: Robb King | 724.738.2199 | robb.king@sru.edu