UH Named a “Best Value” by Princeton Review

Review Cites Tier One Scholarships and other Financial Aid Programs

Best ValueFor the third consecutive year, the University of Houston has been named one of the nation’s “Best Value” colleges and universities, according to The Princeton Review, one of only five Texas universities to make the list.

The Princeton Review each year names 150 colleges – 75 public and 75 private – it has identified as offering top value, both academically and financially.

UH was cited for generous scholarship programs and financial aid packages, a balance of residential and commuter students and its ethnically diverse student body, as well as the city’s international flavor and its status as “the energy capital of the world.”

The other Texas schools ranked as “Best Values” by the educational services company are Rice University, Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin and UT-Dallas.

“The Princeton Review’s ranking affirms that we are offering students a superior education at an affordable price,” said Renu Khator, president of the University of Houston. “With guidance and bold strategic vision from our Board of Regents, the University of Houston has been focused on student success and retention. We work hard to implement strategies that will help offset operating costs without compromising our academic integrity.

“This gratifying recognition reflects our on-going commitment to keeping UH affordable, while maintaining a first-rate, world-class academic experience for our students.”

The Princeton Review said it relies on an analysis of institutional data covering academics, cost and financial aid, in addition to surveys of students at 2,000 undergraduate institutions about their satisfaction with their financial aid awards and academic experiences.

UH was also named to the list in 2012 and 2013.

Robert Franek, senior vice president and publisher of the Princeton Review, said the best-value colleges should be commended for both their academics and efforts to be affordable, “either via comparatively low sticker prices, generous financial aid, or both.”     

 UH’s Tier One Scholarship, awarded to first-time freshmen, was singled out for mention; it covers tuition and fees for up to five years of study, including stipends for study abroad programs and research, two years of on-campus housing, and is awarded based on merit.