Towson University named one of nation's best colleges by value

May 17, 2022

Towson University has again been named to Money Magazine’s Best Colleges in America by Value.

TU landed at No. 50 among all of the nation’s public institutions in the ranking, released Monday. TU was the second-highest ranked institution from Maryland on the list — joined by the University of Maryland, College Park at 68 — and ranked No. 70 among all universities, public or private.

Money weighed data points for 671 four-year institutions and lauded TU for its quality, affordability and student outcomes. Money celebrated TU’s 74 percent graduation rate (within an average of 4.4 years) and that 61 percent of students who need financial aid receive it.  TU has fostered an environment where its minority students achieve nearly the same graduation success rate as the entire student body.

“I am proud to see Towson University recognized among the best values in higher education in the state and the nation,” says President Kim Schatzel. “This ranking reflects TU’s collective mission around student success. Alongside world-renowned faculty, supported by a culture of philanthropy and engaged in our community as an anchor institution, TU fosters an inclusive environment where students find opportunities to thrive.”

Last Fall, TU welcomed its most diverse first-year student class in its 155-year history. Of the 2,610 first-time students, nearly 59 percent identified as a racial or ethnic minority. Towson University's growing diversity is a reflection of the state's population growth.

Said Mike Ayers, Executive Editor of Money, “Towson University scored extremely well on our annual top colleges list, which highlights how good a value the education your students receive.”

Opportunities for local and global engagement for Federal Pell Grant recipients abound at TU. Still, unmet financial aid for the average student averages $12,000, and the TU Foundation works to raise funds to help students meet those needs. And RISE, the Campaign for Towson University, places support for student success at the core of its ambitious $100M philanthropic goal.

The Money Magazine ranking is the second highlighting TU’s value this academic year. The university ranked No. 30 in the Northeast region on the Washington Monthly’s “2021 Best Bang for the Buck” list—the highest-ranking university in Maryland.

In recent months, TU also has been honored for its world-class teaching and research, thriving diversity and inclusion and abundant access to internships and other transformational experiences. Among the honors:

• U.S. News & World Report named Towson University one of the best public universities in the country. The publication’s 2022 Best Colleges rankings placed Towson University No. 99 among national public universities.. 
• Washington Monthly ranked Towson University in the top 35 national public universities in its 2021 College Guide and Rankings. In the sub-category of social mobility, TU is 35th overall and the only Maryland institution in the top 50.
• The Wall Street Journal / Times Higher Education 2022 College Rankings placed TU No. 117 among public institutions nationwide. TU was also among the top national institutions for student outcomes, one of four pillars measuring factors like the salaries graduates earn and the debt burden they carry.
• The Center for World University Rankings (CWUR) placed Towson University among the top 9% worldwide in its 2022-23 World University Rankings.
• Princeton Review included TU among the best colleges in the northeast in its 2022 Best Colleges: Region by Region list. The northeast list includes 223 universities in 11 states and the District of Columbia. The publication does not assign numerical rankings.  
• Towson University was recognized by Insight into Diversity magazine with a Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award in both 2020 and 2021.