Earlier this year, Kiplinger, an online finance advice magazine, released a list of the nation’s best values in public colleges. Colleges were ranked according to acceptance and graduation rates, faculty to student ratio, affordability and standardized test scores. The list named one hundred top schools including the University of Florida in Gainesville and Florida State University in Tallahassee.

The release of the list seriously impacted the college choices of some and had a limited impact on the choices of others.

“It really influences my opinion because college is really expensive and if I can’t afford to go to school then I can’t attend college. I’m grateful that FSU has programs to help kids like me that are economically challenged,” senior Keeneedra Isaacs said. “So many kids I know have great potential but you would never know because they can’t afford the education.”

Kiplinger published the list to provide seniors and their parents with a list of state colleges that provide  a quality education for a reasonable tuition. Especially in these times of economic recession, it is important that students know where to go to save the most money.

The list includes top schools such as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Maryland and the University of Virginia. Florida state schools on the list include the University of Florida (UF), Florida State University (FSU), New College of Florida, the University of Central Florida (UCF), the University of South Florida (USF)and Florida International University (FIU).

“The list definitely impacts my opinion on where I go to college. I want to be sure I get the best education for a good price,” junior Thang Kim said

Along with scholarship programs and prepaid college plans, all of the Florida state schools’ tuitions are significantly less than private schools and still offer an advanced education. The University of Florida ranked only behind the University of North Carolina on the state school level (in the national rankings) and is ranked number one among Florida’s public schools.

“I was going to go to UF anyway, but now that I hear it’s on the list, it makes me want to go even more,” senior Thomas Green said. “I’m glad to see I’m getting the most for my money.”