Winona State University has been named among America’s 100 Best College Buys for the 17th consecutive year.

The publication is an independent ranking of the value and quality of colleges and universities across the nation, conducted by Institutional Research and Evaluation (IRE) of Rome, Ga. The report profiles the schools that are the highest rated academically, but also have the greatest value as a function of academic quality, cost of attendance and financial aid available.

To be considered for America’s 100 Best College Buys, a college must meet specific requirements. The college must be an accredited four-year institution offering bachelor’s degrees; offer full residential facilities including residence halls and dining services; have an entering freshman class with a high school grade point average and/or SAT/ACT score equal to or above the national average; and have an out-of-state cost of attendance that is below the national average.

In 2012 IRE researched 1,447 accredited U.S. colleges and universities. Of the institutions surveyed, 1,027 schools responded. Winona State University is one of only three Minnesota schools included in the 17th annual report of America’s 100 Best College Buys. (The others are University of Minnesota—Twin Cities and University of Minnesota—Duluth.)

About Winona State University

Founded in 1858, Winona State University is a regional public university with nearly 8,900 students. The oldest member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, WSU offers more than 80 undergraduate, pre-professional, licensure, graduate and doctorate programs on its campuses in Winona and Rochester. Winona State ranks as the second public institution in Minnesota in the 2013 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges,” has been named among the “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review for nine consecutive years, and has been featured as one of America’s 100 Best College Buys for quality and value for 17 straight years. The university’s mission is to enhance the intellectual, social, cultural and economic vitality of the people and communities we serve: a community of learners improving our world. For more information, visit: www.winona.edu.