Loyola Marymount University has been named one of the best values among private universities by  Kiplinger’s Personal Finance in its annual national rankings. The magazine ranked the top 100 private universities and 100 liberal arts colleges that combine outstanding education with economic value based on financial aid generosity, graduation rates, average graduating debt, and other measures of value.

Kiplinger’s ranked LMU sixth in California and 60th nationwide among all private universities. The rankings were released this week.

Although private schools have a higher price tag than many public schools, the private schools ultimately provide an excellent education at a great rate because of the abundant financial aid options, the magazine said. LMU was notable in that 79 percent of all students receive financial aid.  Financial aid packages at LMU average more than $18,300 in need-based aid and more than $10,300 in non-need-based aid.

Among private universities in California, LMU ranked fourth for its student-per-faculty ratio of 11:1, trailing only Caltech, Stanford and USC.

Graduation rates at LMU are 71 percent after four years and 78 percent after five years, another significant factor in the Kiplinger ratings.

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October 26, 2011
News Contact: Peter M. Warren | 310.338.2389 | peter.warren@lmu.edu