Missouri University of Science and Technology is among the best deals in the nation for a college education, according to U.S. News and World Report.

Missouri S&T is ranked fifth among public universities and 37th overall in U.S. News‘ “Great Schools, Great Prices” listing, published in the magazine’s 2010 guidebook, America’s Best Colleges. The guidebook rankings were released on Thursday, Aug. 20.

U.S. News determined the rankings based on a university’s academic quality and “the 2008-2009 academic year net cost of attendance for a student who receives the average level of need-based financial aid.” According to the guidebook, “The higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal. Only schools ranked in or near the top half of their categories are included because we work on the premise that the most significant values are among colleges that are above average academically.”

In the category of nationally ranked universities, Missouri S&T is listed at No. 64 among public universities (128th overall).

This isn’t the first time Missouri S&T has been recognized as a great value. Last winter, the magazine Kiplinger’s Personal Finance included S&T in its list of best values in public higher education.