Brandeis has been ranked 23rd out of 100 private universities in Kiplinger's list of best values in private education.

According to Kiplinger's website, the purpose of the list is to "identify institutions that are both academically strong and affordable."

For this year's list, Kiplinger, a business and personal finance publication, has taken "a fresh look at … issues that affect real families" and has placed more weight in high four-year—rather than five-year—graduation rates and efforts to lower student debt upon graduation, according to its website.

The five categories considered in the ranking are—in order of importance—cost and financial aid, competitiveness, academic support, graduation rates and student indebtedness. 

Brandeis has a 35-percent admission rate, nine students per faculty member and an 84-percent four-year graduation rate. The average need- and non-need-based aid allotted are $27,772 and $23,117, respectively, and 24 percent of all undergraduate students receive non-need-based aid. The total cost per year is $54,954, and the average student debt at graduation is $21,351.

Brandeis falls between 22nd-ranked Boston College and 24th-ranked Tufts University.

The top-ranked university for 2011-12 is Princeton University, and the number-one best value liberal arts college is Pomona College. A total of 200 schools were evaluated, 100 for the university category and the other 100 for the liberal arts college category, selected from more than 600 private institutions.

"I believe most of our students choose Brandeis for the incredible academic experience along with a shared commitment to our common values," wrote Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment Andrew Flagel in an email to the Justice. "Being a great value is consistent with those values, and I am very glad we continue to keep our student debt at what appear to be low levels when compared to other institutions nationally."