By Alison Newton
Originally published 06:24 p.m., October 8, 2009
Updated 06:24 p.m., October 8, 2009

ANDERSON — Anderson and Clemson universities have been named to the latest “America’s 100 Best College Buys” list.

Institutional Research & Evaluation Inc. is an independent research and consulting organization that produces the list. This year is the 14th the organization has named 100 American colleges and universities that provide students the highest quality education at the lowest cost. No college or university paid to be included in the report, and institutions selected for the list are not ranked from 1 to 100.

Lewis Lindsey, president of Institutional Research and Evaluation, said officials of Anderson and Clemson universities try to keep costs down for students.

“Dr. (Evans) Whitaker and the board of Anderson are very proactive,” Lindsey said of Anderson University. “They are trying to meet the needs of the students to provide the courses that they want and they can benefit from. At the same time (the school’s administration is) incredibly cost-conscious and (is) trying to keep costs as low as possible to make it practical for any qualified student to attend.”

This year is the third consecutive one that Anderson University has been name to the best buys list.

It’s sometimes easy for a state institution such as Clemson to rely upon the generosity of the Legislature and taxpayers, Lindsey said. But higher education institutions in South Carolina, he said, have kept taxpayers in mind and have tried to be as efficient and cost-effective as possible.

“It’s certainly a very, very fine academic institution,” Lindsey said of Clemson.

Clemson has been named to the best college buy list several times before this year, he said.In South Carolina this year, Charleston Southern and Coastal Carolina universities as well as The University of South Carolina also are on the best college buys list.

The survey to determine the best college buys was sent to 1,451 accredited, residential, four-year institutions for the newest publication. Of those surveyed, 1,195 institutions responded.

Anderson University officials said being cited for quality and affordability is significant in these days of rising educational costs coupled with a fluctuating national economic situation.

“The true cost of an Anderson education is far less than the university’s published price would indicate, although the published price is more than 13 percent lower than the national average of all private institutions,” said Evans Whitaker, Anderson University president. “Offering a great education at an affordable price is challenging, but that is our ongoing commitment to the public.”