Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine has announced its list of the 100 public colleges and universities that offer the best value for a top-notch education, with the University of Connecticut coming in at number 30. UConn ranked 32nd last year.

“As states cut funding for higher education and tuition continues to climb, the word ‘value’ becomes more significant than ever,” said Jane Bennett Clark, senior editor at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance in a statement. “This year’s top 100 public schools deliver strong academics at reasonable prices. We applaud these institutions for tightening their belts without compromising quality.”

The annual public school rankings appear in Kiplinger’s February 2012 issue.

According to the magazine, its process begins with data on more than 500 public institutions. The schools are sorted based on measures of quality – such as the admission rate, the test scores of incoming freshmen, and four- and six-year graduation rates. Data on cost is then added – including tuition, fees, and room and board, as well as financial aid for in-state and out-of-state students – creating combined criteria based on both quality and affordability.

A UConn webpage details some of the reasons why the University is a great value.