ISU students are getting their money’s worth when it comes to education, as Iowa State was recently listed as a “Best Buy” school in the new “Fiske Guide to Colleges 2011.”

This year, Fiske named 45 institutions, 21 public and 24 private, as Best Buys. Fiske guide proves that the price and quality of a university do not always go hand in hand.

Best Buy schools fall into the inexpensive or moderate price category with four- or five-star academic ratings. Institutions are not numerically ranked, but rather assessed based on academic quality, social life and quality of life.

The Fiske Guide is authored by New York Times education editor Edward B. Fiske. The guide features more than 330 of the “best and most interesting” colleges and universities in the United States, Canada and Great Britain.

“Love for Iowa State runs as deep as its Midwestern roots,” according to the guide. “Strong programs in engineering, business and agriculture attract students from around the globe … these days, though, the liberal arts are just as popular, and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the largest of [Iowa State’s] seven colleges.”

Other observations about Iowa State include: “history and tradition prevail,” “professors teach most classes” and “academic and career counseling draw praise, too, and advisors are ‘always readily available’ to help students.”