Great Value Colleges seeks to provide prospective students who are seeking a quality online education at an affordable price with the most current and relevant information possible. We feel that this information will allow them a greater opportunity to make an informed decision when plotting the course for their education. With this in mind, we have designed a methodology based primarily upon tuition costs while also considering key factors such as the potential return on investment, the flexibility of the distance learning programs, academic quality, and the resources available to online students. Below is the standard methodology applied as we develop our rankings.
Ranking Methodology:
Tuition
- Net Price Below $10,000: 4 points
- Net Price Below $15,000: 3 points
- Net Price Below $18,000: 2 points
- Net Price Below $20,000: 1 point
Student to Faculty Ratio
- Less than 20:1: 1 point
- Less than 15: 1: 2 points
- Less than 10: 1: 3 points
Return on Investment (ROI) According to Payscale.com
- Top 500: 1 point
- Top 300: 2 points
- Top 150: 3 points
Flexibility of the Program (asynchronous course delivery, hybrid options, part-time/full-time schedule, etc. ) – 1 point per item
Online Student Support Network (faculty mentors/advisors, etc.)— 1 point per item
Concentrations/Specializations – 1 point per item
Accreditation (School-Wide and Program-Specific) – 1 point per item
“Wow” Factor – 1 point (anything that would mark a program as unique. Special qualities that make a program “stand out from the crowd”)
