Missouri University of Science and Technology has been named one of the nation’s top 100 public universities, according to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.

Missouri S&T made Kiplinger’s list of Best Values in Public Colleges, which is published in the February 2014 issue of Kiplinger’s. The report, available online now at kiplinger.com/links/college and on newsstands Dec. 31, ranks Missouri S&T 81st in the top 100 colleges. The list ranks public institutions that “combine outstanding education with economic value.”

“The college landscape today is very different—tuition increases and student debt dominate the national conversation surrounding higher education,” said Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. “This year’s top 100 schools have made admirable strides to maintain academic integrity and standards while meeting the financial needs of their students.”

“There is a need to keep excellent universities affordable and accessible, and Missouri S&T is doing just that,” says Missouri S&T Chancellor Cheryl B. Schrader. “The Kiplinger’s ranking reflects the quality and value of a Missouri S&T education and reinforces our message that investing in an S&T education will pay great dividends in the future.”

Kiplinger’s assesses quality according to a number of measurable standards, including the admission rate, the percentage of freshman students who return for their sophomore year, the student-faculty ratio and the four-year graduation rate. Cost criteria include low sticker prices, abundant financial aid and low average debt at graduation.