Money Magazine awards Misericordia University four stars in new college rankings system

Money Magazine awards Misericordia University four stars
in new college rankings system

Misericordia University was named to Money Magazine's The Best Colleges in America 2023 list based on quality and affordability, receiving a four-star ranking. Misericordia was the highest-ranked four-year institution in Luzerne County, and among the highest ranked in northeastern Pennsylvania.

The factors that earned the university's ranking on Money’s list include a 2023-24 estimated tuition, fees, and room and board of $55,200, with an average financial aid package of $25,500. One hundred percent of students with need receive financial aid, with 88 percent of students receiving grants. The average merit grant is $16,800.

Success after graduation is also a factor in the Money rankings. The average time to a degree is 4.1 years, with early career earnings of $59,500, which is 80 percent more than a high school graduate without a college degree. The median student debt is $26,970.

According to Money Magazine, their analysis of the country's four-year colleges examines 26 data points, including graduation rates, cost of attendance, and alumni salaries, to help students find a campus where they can begin their career path, become highly competent professionals with broad thinking skills, and garner value with affordable tuition. 

This year the publication revamped their analysis to introduce a new rankings system. Instead of a numbered ranked list, they've assigned the 736 schools in the Best Colleges a rating out of five stars. Money's new system recognizes that there are multiple ways for a school to provide value, and multiple "best" colleges, depending on a student's goals, needs and priorities.

Money’s 2023 “Best Colleges in America” rating was published online July 12.

The factors Money used in assessing the value of the education provided by colleges included an analysis of the school's quality (30 percent), affordability (40 percent) and the outcomes of graduates (30 percent).

The criteria used to assess “affordability” included an estimate of the “net price of a degree,” which assessed tuition, the time it takes for students to graduate, and the school’s average financial aid offered to students.

"Money's Best Colleges list is one source of information for students and their families during the college selection process. While no rankings system is perfect or tells the full story of the positive influence a university has on its students and alumni, it is always satisfying to be included in these rankings and have the value of our dedicated faculty, staff, administrators and students recognized," said Daniel J. Myers, Ph.D., president of Misericordia University. “What is so difficult to capture in these rankings is the personal attention and commitment to student success that is part of the Misericordia experience. I encourage any prospective student to use multiple sources for information during their college search process and make plans to personally visit the ones that best meet their ideal.”