As the nation debates the rising cost of higher education, Cornell students can feel assured that they’re getting their money’s worth. Cornell is ranked No. 15 on Kiplinger's list of the best values in private universities for 2014 – up from No. 18 last year – on a list of the top 100. The university has appeared on the Kiplinger list for several years, rising a few steps higher each year.

The top 50 liberal arts colleges and top 50 universities will be listed in the December issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine, on newsstands Nov. 5. The full list is available online at www.kiplinger.com/links/college.

The rankings are based on data from more than 600 private universities and liberal arts colleges, and take into account tuition, room and board and other costs – with adjustments for financial aid policies – balanced against academic quality as measured by graduation and retention rates and student-faculty ratios. Special value is assigned to schools that help students graduate without a heavy burden of debt.

While tuition may rise in response to rising costs, Cornell’s commitment to financial aid helps ameliorate tuition increases for many undergraduate students, said Elmira Mangum, vice president for budget and planning.

“Our financial aid policies have a significant impact on lowering the actual cost of attendance for over 48 percent of our undergraduates with financial need,” Mangum said. “Cornell will administer nearly $245 million in financial aid this year that benefits roughly 6,700 students.”

“With President Obama’s recent emphasis on rating colleges and universities based on their value, our rankings serve as a valuable resource to help students and families make more informed choices,” said Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. “Combining a high-quality education with an affordable price tag is a challenge, but the colleges on this year’s list offer the best of both worlds.”

A little over a month ago, U.S. News and World Report ranked Cornell ninth in its Top 10 “Great Schools at Great Prices,” a similar measure that balances costs against academic quality.