STEUBENVILLE, OHIO—Money magazine awarded Franciscan University of Steubenville four stars in its recent “Best Colleges in America 2023” resource.

Only 736 colleges—30 percent of the over 2,400 colleges in the U.S.—made the list based on financial health, student population, and above the median graduation rates. The well-known finance magazine’s new five-star rating system was based on 26 competitive metrics in three categories: affordability, quality of education, and student outcomes. These metrics included cost of attendance, financial aid, graduation rates, and alumni salaries. According to Money magazine, the new rating system makes it easier to determine “where your tuition (and time) is likely to pay off.”

Franciscan’s four-star rating reflects the growing demand for its uniquely Catholic approach to education that prioritizes both academic excellence and affordability. The University expects its seventh straight record-breaking year for total enrollment on campus and online this fall, as well as fourth straight record-breaking year for in-person enrollment.

At a time of stubborn inflation and other economic hardships, affordability is a top priority for many families considering college. John Herrmann, executive director of Enrollment Services at Franciscan, identified affordability as a primary driving factor for the University’s surge in applications in recent years.

“With over $35 million in financial aid available for our undergraduate students, approximately 99 percent of them receive some form of scholarship or need-based grants,” said Herrmann. “This is one of the ways Franciscan University continues to make the dream of an excellent Catholic college education a reality for more and more young people every year.”

By foregoing a numerical ranking system, Money magazine’s five-star rating approach allows students and parents to look beyond the big-name universities and discover smaller colleges like Franciscan where fewer tuition dollars will deliver an academically excellent education and transformative student life experience.

Last fall, U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-23 Best Colleges guidebook ranked Franciscan in the top 15 percent among all Midwest universities. Among the leading factors for that top-tier ranking are Franciscan’s 87 percent first-year retention rate, 72 percent graduation rate, and 14-1 student/faculty ratio.

To see the full Money magazine ratings, visit money.com/best-colleges.