Butler University and Indiana University were recognized in a national college rankings publication as being “Best Buy” institutions.

In announcing the 2013 “Best Buy” results, The Fiske Guide to Colleges 2013 said: “In the face of today’s skyrocketing tuition rates, students and families in all economic circumstances are looking for ways to get the best value for their education dollar. Fortunately, there are some bargains to be found in higher education — it just takes a bit of shopping around with a little guidance along the way.”

The 2013 Fiske Guide to Colleges, founded in 1982 by former New York Times education editor Edward B. Fiske, is considered one of the nation’s most comprehensive guides for students and their families to more than 300 colleges and universities. It is currently the most popular college guidebook on Amazon.

Fiske contains an “Index by Price” that groups public and private institutions into four price categories, from inexpensive to very expensive, but also suggests a number of schools that offer outstanding academics with relatively moderate prices.

All of the Best Buy schools fall into the inexpensive or moderate price category, and most have four- or five-star academics ratings.

Butler University

Butler University has been named a “Best Buy” school in the 2013 revised and updated edition of Fiske Guide to Colleges — one of only 21 private schools and 41 nationwide to receive that designation this year.

This is the second consecutive year Butler has been named a “Best Buy.”

In the 2 1/2-page entry, Butler is described as a “small, private university with an attractive campus near Indianapolis and a relaxed Midwestern feel. Butler combines a strong liberal arts emphasis with practical learning. Strong in dance and international business. Classes are small with no TAs. Students are a homogeneous lot who share Indiana’s trademark passion for basketball. Larger than DePauw, smaller than Northwestern.”

Butler President James Danko said he’s pleased by the recognition from Fiske because the University “works to deliver value in all that we do.

“Butler has defined itself by focusing on a quality student experience and an education that ultimately leads to a fulfilling life and career,” he said. “Fiske recognizes our academic excellence as well as our commitment to providing financial assistance to students.”

Butler is the only Indiana private school on the list.

Indiana University

IU was one of only 20 public universities from the U.S., U.K. and Canada to receive the “best buy” designation from Fiske and one of three Big Ten institutions named to the list along with the University of Iowa and University of Wisconsin-Madison. This year’s guide also features 21 private universities.

IU Vice President Neil Theobald said the Fiske designation reflects the university’s ongoing commitment to keeping an IU education affordable and accessible to all qualified students.

“While a ranking itself cannot reduce the hardships that so many students and their families are facing in these challenging economic times, it does support our continued and creative effort to address the important issues of college affordability and timely degree completion,” Theobald said. “Through new initiatives, such as our recently instituted summer tuition discount, we are determined to provide much-needed financial relief for students and their families and significant incentives for students to earn their degrees on time or even early.”

As part of IU’s summer tuition discount program, Indiana resident undergraduates enrolled at all of IU’s seven campuses statewide received a 25 percent discount in tuition for courses taken this summer. Nonresident undergraduate students received an equivalent dollar reduction in their tuition.

Additionally, last month, the university introduced a comprehensive program on student financial literacy, designed to give IU students tools to complete college without burdening themselves with excessive debt.

Source: Butler University, Indiana University