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CSU Stanislaus education named best bang for the buck
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The students at CSU Stanislaus are getting a good return on their tuition according to recently released data from Washington Monthly that ranked the university 10th among 233 schools in the Western United States in the guides Best Bang for the BuckWestern Rankings list. - photo by Journal file photo

There is no denying that California State University, Stanislaus has been making positive headlines this year.

In this academic year alone, the campus has launched the Greatness Relies On Writing Project, earned recognition for its community outreach with the Carnegie Foundation’s 2015 Community Engagement Classification, and experienced the highest percentage gain in applications throughout the entire CSU system.

According to data released by Washington Monthly, the University can add another figurative gold star to its name as it has been recently ranked 10th among 233 schools in the Western United States in the guide’s “Best Bang for the Buck—Western Rankings” list.

“This recognition and the other high rankings we have received throughout the years highlight what our campus community already knows: CSU Stanislaus provides a high quality, good value education that prepares graduates for career and personal success,” said Associate Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs Tim Lynch.

Included in The Other College Guide: A Roadmap for the Right School for You, these rankings determine school value based on a variety of factors, including net price dependent on family income, graduation rate, and the likelihood of graduating students transitioning into jobs where they earn enough to pay off their loans.

One component that specifically led to the University’s impressive ranking is a $6,950 net price for all students.

“The net price makes a CSU degree one of the best values in higher education,” said Lynch. “Despite the significant fiscal challenges the CSU has faced and continues to face, it remains the people’s university.”

When broken down, students whose annual family income is between $0 and $30,000 can expect an average net price of $3,614, students whose annual family income is between $30,000 and $75,000 can expect an average net price of $7,422, and students whose annual family income exceeds $75,000 can expect an average net price of $14,102.

Also included in the chart was CSU Stanislaus’ student loan default rate of 4.9 percent, number of applicants submitted at 48.9 percent, and a graduation rate of 49 percent.

“Our graduation rate, though comparable overall to our CSU peers, needs to improve, and we are committed to improvement,” said Lynch. “CSU Stanislaus is looking at ways to build a better pipeline from elementary school through high school and community college, and on to us.”

“The time to first address persistence to degree is not when students start taking their classes here,” continued Lynch.

Lynch also noted that more than half — 53 percent — of the University’s students receive Pell Grants.

“This reflects the importance of financial aid in helping students achieve their dreams,” said Lynch. “Many of our students are the first in their working-class family to attend college, and financial aid is absolutely the difference maker.”

This is the first year that the University has made it onto the top 10 in the West. CSU Stanislaus is one of five CSU campuses to make it onto this year’s top 10 list and one of eight California campuses on the list overall.

“Everyone likes validation, but this type of recognition goes beyond feeling good about ourselves,” said Lynch. “We know the bang for the buck that a CSU Stanislaus education provides, but we want to share that news with parents and prospective students in our region.”

“We want them to look to us, their local university, as the best place to get an excellent education,” continued Lynch.

To view the full list, visit washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings-other-college-guide/best-bang-for-buck-west-rank.php.