‘US News & World Report’: Duquesne, a Great School at a Great Price

Duquesne University, again ranked in the top national tier of schools across the nation in the 2013 edition US News & World Report’s Best Colleges, also was among the top four Catholic universities listed in US News’ Great Schools at Great Prices.

Achieving this special designation for the second year, Duquesne is listed among the top schools in the nation to provide a high-quality academic program at a good value. Ranked at No. 44, it was the fourth Catholic school named in this ranking, along with the University of Notre Dame, Georgetown University and Boston College.

Duquesne also offers the lowest undergraduate tuition among the top Catholic schools. With its $27,668 tuition for the 2012-2013 academic year, Duquesne is the only school among this group not to exceed a $40,000 tuition bill for the current academic year.

US News considers only schools that are ranked in or near the top half of the national tier for this listing because above-average academic institutions provide the greatest value. The ranking considers the net cost for undergraduate students with average need-based aid. Of the 50 best-value schools, Duquesne has one of the highest percentages of students who received needs-based aid in 2011 (70 percent).

“We are proud not only to be known for providing a top-quality academic experience, but for doing so at a tuition rate that provides students with a top value,” said President Charles J. Dougherty. “This year, we have enrolled what we expect to be the largest and one of the most selective freshman classes in University history.”

Overall, Duquesne again received a top national ranking, tied at No. 120 among 281 institutions selected and from more than 1,500 schools considered. Also listed at No. 120 were Catholic University of America, Howard University, Michigan Technological University and the University of Arizona. Among these peers at the No. 120 position, Duquesne showed the highest average freshman percentage retention rate (87 percent), the highest actual graduation rate (73 percent) and the most selective SAT score threshold.

The national rankings included 281 institutions, 101 of them private schools that were evaluated in up to 16 academic qualities.

In addition to being included in the national rankings and Great Schools at Great Prices, Duquesne is considered to be one of the schools across the nation where students with “spirit and hard work” are given a chance to excel. The University is listed as an A+ Schools for B Students, considered by US News to exemplify “schools (that) truly seek a broad, engaged student body.”