SRU scores 52 ‘badges of distinction’ from College Factual

Share

campus fountain

Photo by Marisa Scullin, senior communication major from Medina, Ohio

Sept. 8, 2016

college factual logo

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Slippery Rock University has earned 52 badges of distinction including 33 "best value" 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 today in USA Today.

College Factual is an online resource designed to assist prospective college students, parents, guidance counselors and others involved in the college selection process. 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 12 badges in the top five percent; 15 badges in the top 10 percent and 25 in the top 15 percent.

SRU was in the top five percent in the overall categories of:

  • "Best for the Money" in Pennsylvania;
  • "Best for the Money with Aid" in Pennsylvania;
  • "Best for the Money without Aid" (nationwide);
  • "Best for the Money without Aid" (Middle Atlantic); and
  • "Best for the Money without Aid" in Pennsylvania

The University also had seven fields of study and majors recognized in the top five percent. These were:

  • "Best Value" - Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies;
  • "Best Value" - Health Professions;
  • "Best Value" - Special Education;
  • "Best Value" - Public Health;
  • "Best Value" - History;
  • "Most Popular" - Special Education; and
  •  "Most Focused" - Special Education

The University earned 15 badges for ranking in the top 10 percent including four in the college overall category. These included:

  • "Best for the Money" - Nationwide;
  • "Best for the Money" - Middle Atlantic;
  • "Best for the Money with Aid" - Nationwide;
  • "Best for the Money with Aid" - Middle Atlantic;

Eleven field of study and majors were recognized in the top 10 percent including:

  • "Best Value" - Education;
  • "Most Popular" - Quality Control Technology;
  • "Most Popular" - Health Professions;
  • "Best Value" - History;
  • "Best Value" - Mathematics;
  • "Most Popular" - Interdisciplinary Studies;
  • "Most Popular" - Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies;
  • "Best Value" - Health and Physical Education/Fitness major;
  • "Best Value" - Physical Sciences;
  • "Best Value" - Public Administration and Social Service; and
  • "Best Value" - Social Work

The University earned 25 badges for ranking in the top 15 percent of all programs. General and fields of study earning badges were:

  • "Most Popular" - Education;
  • "Most Popular" - Engineering;
  • "Best Value" - Psychology;
  • "Best Value" - Visual and Performing Arts;
  • "Best Value" - Mathematics and Statistics;
  • "Best Value" - Social Sciences;
  • "Most Popular" - Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies;
  • Men's Football - Sport Specific;
  • "Most Popular" - Health Professions; and
  • "Most Focused" - Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness

Majors finishing in the top 15 percent included:

  • "Best Value" - Communication and Media Studies;
  • "Best Value" - Biology, General;
  • "Best Value" - Computer Information Systems;
  • "Best Value" - English Language and Literature, General;
  • "Most Focused" - Geography;
  • "Best Value" - Political Science and Government;
  • "Best Value" - Nursing;
  • "Best Value" - Chemistry;
  • "Best Value" - Geological and Earth Sciences;
  • "Best Value" - Fine and Studio Arts;
  • "Most Focused" - Recreation Administration;
  • "Best Value" - Psychology;
  • "Most Popular" - Music;
  • "Most Popular" - Dance; and
  • "Most Popular" - Business Administration and Management

"Our rankings are data-driven and not built upon surveys of college administrators in the industry," said Bill Phelan, co-founder and CEO of College Factual. "You would never pick the winner of the Super Bowl based upon gathering the opinion of all the coaches in the NFL."

"We are delighted to see so many of our majors and fields of study recognized in the rankings," said Cheryl Norton, SRU president. "To garner so many accolades in so many areas is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our faculty and students. SRU provides powerful educational experiences for our students which position them for success in the job market and in life."

In addition to earning 33 "Best Value" ratings from College Factual, the University has also been cited as a "Best Value University" by MONEY magazine.


MEDIA CONTACT: Robb King | 724.738.2199 | robert.king@sru.edu

Search News