Bargain shopping on college tuition? New College may be school for you

New College of Florida has been dubbed one of the best bargains in higher education.

The school is one of 20 public colleges in the United States to receive “Best Buy” designation in the 2018 Fiske Guide to Colleges. Eighteen private schools also made the list.

New College is “proof that it’s possible to find success through individualism,” according to the guide, which was founded by former New York Times education editor Edward Fiske and is in its 34th year.

In order to receive “Best Buy”designation, a school must earn a four- or five-star ranking for academic excellence and be in Fiske’s moderate- or low-price group. New College has made the list since 2003, according to a press release from the school.

According to New College’s web page, tuition in 2016-17 for Florida residents was $6,915. Out-of-state student tuition last year was $29,944. That figure does not include room, board and fees.

The University of Florida also made the list.

“Students praise the personalized attention they receive from professors; graduate students and teaching assistants don’t lead classes here and 73 percent of classes have fewer than 20 students,” the guide states. “All disciplines provide the opportunity for original research and students also may conduct field research around the globe.”

This story was originally published July 11, 2017 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Bargain shopping on college tuition? New College may be school for you."