Kansas University announced Friday that it ranks among the best education values in the nation, according to the Princeton Review.

KU ranked in the top 50 public universities in the United States for best education value. Rankings were based on surveys of administrators and students at more than 650 public and private colleges and universities.

The selection criteria covered more than 30 factors in three areas: academics, costs of attendance and financial aid. The data is from the 2007-08 academic year.

“When you look at cost of higher education and you look at value and quality, all of those factors are very apparent in the opportunities available at the University of Kansas,” said Marlesa Roney, vice provost for student success. “It is that combination of high quality academics, an amazing and beautiful campus, and just a great campus experience.”

Roney cited the four-year, fixed-rate tuition contract as an example of how KU tries to make education affordable and worthwhile. The tuition contract began in the 2007-2008 academic year and guarantees the same tuition rates for incoming freshmen through four years of university education.

Christy Quinlan, a 2005 KU graduate from Lansing, said she believes the quality of her education at KU was well worth what she paid, despite not being eligible for the four-year contract.

“I feel like the students had a substantial voice in what went on and that the university was always trying to improve,” Quinlan said.