!["All students receive guaranteed scholarship funding to attend New College if they are applying as a freshman, complete their application by February 15, and are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or eligible noncitizens; all you've got to do is get in."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/dd/c8/1361292174_5858_Ringling3X.jpg?itok=edwphIm8 ""All students receive guaranteed scholarship funding to attend New College if they are applying as a freshman, complete their application by February 15, and are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or eligible noncitizens; all you've got to do is get in.""){kind=small}
!["Although its relative low cost makes Carolina a great bargain in higher education, the school is all about 'top-notch academics while having the ultimate college experience.'"](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/de/9d/1361292174_6732_University%20of%20North%20Carolina.jpg?itok=BwNQy45o ""Although its relative low cost makes Carolina a great bargain in higher education, the school is all about 'top-notch academics while having the ultimate college experience.'""){kind=small}
!["UVA has one of the largest per capita endowments of any public school in the country and exerts a tremendous effort to ensure that its undergraduates have access to an affordable education regardless of economic circumstances." ](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/hash/7a/ec/7aecde64da991b13cc15c6f09946cfef.jpg?itok=dHUNr2Dx ""UVA has one of the largest per capita endowments of any public school in the country and exerts a tremendous effort to ensure that its undergraduates have access to an affordable education regardless of economic circumstances." "){kind=small}
Earlier this month, the Princeton Review released its annual list of the nation’s “Best Value Colleges”—a project originated in 2004 and supported by USA TODAY since 2009.
The 2013 list identified 150 colleges—75 public and 75 private—deemed “Best Values” based on assessments covering academics, cost, and financial aid. Both institutional and student surveys were conducted for this project in 2011-12.
While the Princeton Review does not rank its 150 “Best Value” colleges overall, it does report the top 10 schools in each group: public and private. And the entire list appears in two free online resources including an interactive database at a dedicated area on USA TODAY. A 450-page companion book—The Best Value Colleges: The 150 Best-Buy Schools and What it Takes to Get In—contains detailed profiles of the colleges and offers advice for applicants on admissions and financial aid.
Here are the top 10 best-value public colleges for 2013 (descriptions courtesy of Princeton Review).
Disclosure: Nancy Griesemer is a member of the Princeton Review National College Counselor Advisory Board, 2012-2013.
!["UVA has one of the largest per capita endowments of any public school in the country and exerts a tremendous effort to ensure that its undergraduates have access to an affordable education regardless of economic circumstances." ](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/86/1e/861eb55abad93c84e7126cb0bb8627c3.jpg?itok=g2R8B9wv ""UVA has one of the largest per capita endowments of any public school in the country and exerts a tremendous effort to ensure that its undergraduates have access to an affordable education regardless of economic circumstances." ")
!["Although its relative low cost makes Carolina a great bargain in higher education, the school is all about 'top-notch academics while having the ultimate college experience.'"](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/de/9d/1361292174_6732_University%20of%20North%20Carolina.jpg?itok=LmaoZjIo ""Although its relative low cost makes Carolina a great bargain in higher education, the school is all about 'top-notch academics while having the ultimate college experience.'"")
!["All students receive guaranteed scholarship funding to attend New College if they are applying as a freshman, complete their application by February 15, and are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or eligible noncitizens; all you've got to do is get in."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/dd/c8/1361292174_5858_Ringling3X.jpg?itok=cLmREpe4 ""All students receive guaranteed scholarship funding to attend New College if they are applying as a freshman, complete their application by February 15, and are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or eligible noncitizens; all you've got to do is get in."")
!["As one of only eight 'Public Ivies' in the nation, it offers an incredibly high level of academics for low in-state tuition."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/36/fc/1361292174_7162_WMX.jpg?itok=4sB2M_4V ""As one of only eight 'Public Ivies' in the nation, it offers an incredibly high level of academics for low in-state tuition."")
!["While business and political science are popular majors here, UCLA is, like many large public schools, a major research university with excellent professors and facilities."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/60/8e/608e2eee39958ea94f3ec59e8067943a.jpg?itok=5hgSZ0mS ""While business and political science are popular majors here, UCLA is, like many large public schools, a major research university with excellent professors and facilities."")
!["Science and technology are big at North Carolina State University, a major research university and the largest four-year institution in its state."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/6a/66/6a666adf6dfe7742161eb2dd791011c6.jpg?itok=7MBHUlu_ ""Science and technology are big at North Carolina State University, a major research university and the largest four-year institution in its state."")
!["Phenomenal resources, prestige, and beautiful new buildings that seem to go up every other year are just some of the draws of the UW system's flagship school in Madison."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/d5/1c/1361292174_7330_WisconsinX.jpg?itok=2KDe9gyV ""Phenomenal resources, prestige, and beautiful new buildings that seem to go up every other year are just some of the draws of the UW system's flagship school in Madison."")
!["Binghamton University (a State University of New York institution) offers its students a true value: this medium-sized university is more competitive than many of the Northeast's private schools, yet its top-notch education is available for a low state-school price."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/7c/c3/1361292174_2748_SunyBinghamton.jpg?itok=7ywcjvqr ""Binghamton University (a State University of New York institution) offers its students a true value: this medium-sized university is more competitive than many of the Northeast's private schools, yet its top-notch education is available for a low state-school price."")
!["Academically, Michigan is 'very competitive,' with 'an amazing honors program,' and some students go so far as to say that 'Michigan is as good as Ivy League schools in many disciplines.'"](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/da/be/dabef471662911fd33a67029477ddd41.JPG?itok=C3I6vZ6i ""Academically, Michigan is 'very competitive,' with 'an amazing honors program,' and some students go so far as to say that 'Michigan is as good as Ivy League schools in many disciplines.'"")
!["The school is as broad and encompassing as it is eclectic, offering bachelor's degrees in more than 140 fields, as well as a lauded honors program, which encompasses nearly 10 percent of undergraduates."](http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/profile_large/hash/9c/f2/9cf25b087e330c2de26a1de1b3b1c7a6.jpg?itok=sIIsMbng ""The school is as broad and encompassing as it is eclectic, offering bachelor's degrees in more than 140 fields, as well as a lauded honors program, which encompasses nearly 10 percent of undergraduates."")
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