JMU Tops Among Public Schools

"A member of the Virginia state school system, James Madison University has emerged as a leader among southern public universities. The essence of the 'Madison Experience' can be summed up as follows: big-school opportunities, small-school feel," according to the "Princeton Review Best Value Colleges for 2011" in selecting JMU as one of the nation's Top 50 public colleges and universities. 

The annual college guide list features 50 public and 50 private colleges and universities. Of the 50 schools in each category, the top 10 are ranked 1 to 10, and the remaining 40 are listed in alphabetical order and unranked. 

JMU is among four Virginia public universities included in the "Best Value Colleges for 2011" list. 

The Princeton Review selected its "best value" choices for 2011 based on surveys of administrators and students at 650 colleges and universities. The selection criteria covered more than 30 factors in the areas of academics, cost of attendance and financial aid. Data for the surveys was the most recently reported information from each institution for its 2009-10 academic year and all cost and financial aid data came from fall 2010 surveys. 

The Princeton Review and USA Today have partnered to present the "Best Value" findings for the third year in a row. JMU was included in the 2009 and 2010 "Princeton Review Best Value Colleges" lists. 

The public- and private-schools lists can be viewed at http://bestvaluecolleges.usatoday.com.