Money magazine recognizes MC as one of the Best Colleges in America for 2023
June 30, 2023
When it comes to the value of a college education, Maryville College has been recognized as one of the best in America by Money magazine.
Established in 1972 as a magazine to help everyday consumers improve their lives through personal finance strategies, Money has grown into an online publication that delivers financial news, educational resources and tools to assist readers in establishing meaningful investments — including the best value for the dollar when it comes to higher education.
MC is one of eight Tennessee colleges and universities among the 736 schools named the Best Colleges in America that Money selected from a pool of 2,400 institutions. The selection is based on four requirements: having at least 500 undergraduate students; having sufficient, reliable data the magazine’s editors could analyze; being financially solvent; and having a graduation rate at or above the median for its institutional category.
“College costs remain one of the primary reasons students choose not to attend college or struggle to graduate once they do,” Money education editor Kaitlin Mulhere writes.
“To help families make informed decisions about where to spend their tuition dollars, Money’s latest ‘Best Colleges’ offers a practical analysis of more than 700 four-year colleges, focusing on affordability and student outcomes.”
Among Tennessee institutions, Maryville College, with 3 ½ stars, was tied in rankings with Belmont University, Bethel University and Lipscomb University. Other schools making the list in the Volunteer State include King University, Rhodes College, University of Tennessee-Knoxville and the University of the South. The publication’s previous ranking system was a numerical one, but this year, editors opted to use a star-based rating for the Best Colleges in America ranking because it “recognizes that there are multiple ways for a school to provide value, and multiple ‘best’ colleges, depending on your goals and priorities,” according to Money reporter Peter Grieve.
Maryville College, the magazine noted, has a price tag that’s offset by the fact that 99% of students, and 100% of financially disadvantaged students, receive some form of financial aid that meets 83% of their needs. With a 68% acceptance rate, the College also maintains a 54% graduation rate, and Scots reported an average starting salary of $45,800 after graduation — earning 61% more than a high school graduate.
Combined with the quality of the education offered across nine academic divisions and more than 70 majors and pre-professional tracks, the return on investment in a Maryville College education is a worthy one for current and future Scots, according to MC President Dr. Bryan Coker, and the placement among the Best Colleges in America is an honor.
“We’re grateful for Money magazine’s recognition of what generations of Maryville College alumni know, and what students are still discovering today — we offer an education of incredible value and do all we can to make it affordable,” Coker said. “An MC education prepares you for the world today, as well as the limitless possibilities of tomorrow.”