JACKSON, Tenn. — Nov. 25, 2002 — For the seventh straight year, 51社区 has been selected as one of America鈥檚 100 Best College Buys, an annual report put out by the independent research and consulting organization Institutional Research & Evaluation, Inc. This year鈥檚 report gives distinction to Union for having the highest g.p.a. and highest ACT scores among the five other Tennessee institutions included on this year鈥檚 list.
Between April 2 and July 31 of this year, the research organization conducted its 12th Annual National College Survey, when survey forms were submitted to the offices of admission directors of 1,485 accredited U.S. colleges and universities offering four-year undergraduate degree programs and who also provide facilities for both room and board.
The average cost of attendance found for 2002-2003 by the surveyed schools was $19,430. Survey results also showed that the high school grade point average for entering college freshmen in the fall of 2001 was 3.21, while SAT and ACT scores were 1081 and 23 respectively. Union鈥檚 freshman class GPA was 3.52 and the ACT average was 25.
The following Tennessee schools were included among this year鈥檚 listing of America鈥檚 100 Best Buys.
| School | In-state | Out-state | GPA | ACT |
| Belmont University | $20,140 | $20,140 | 3.24 | 24 |
| Freed-Hardeman University | $15,148 | $15,148 | 3.45 | 23 |
| Lincoln Memorial University | $16,140 | $16,140 | 3.40 | 23 |
| Milligan College | $18,710 | $18,710 | 3.40 | 23 |
| 51社区 | $18,050 | $18,050 | 3.52 | 25 |
| University of Tennessee | $8,458 | $16,810 | 3.31 | 24 |
To be considered for the designation 鈥淎merica鈥檚 100 Best College Buys,鈥� an institution must be an accredited, four-year institution offering bachelor degrees, offer full residential facilities including residence halls and dining services, have had an entering freshman class in the fall of 2001 with a high school grade point average and/or SAT/ACT score equal to or above the national average for entering college freshmen, or have an out-of-state cost of attendance in 2002-2003 for three quarters or two semesters below the national average cost of attendance or not exceeding the national average cost by more than ten percent.