Kiplinger's Magazine Goofs on "Best Colleges" List

According to Kevin McCormally, Kiplinger editorial director, the five schools were dropped off the list after the article appeared, and all failed to qualify because of low SAT scores. He said the magazine immediately mailed a letter to the affected schools.

The initial finding was reported in Kiplinger's October issue in an article that examined the 100 best public college values that "combine great academics and affordable tuitions."

Kiplinger discovered the mistake on Oct. 18, eight days after an article in The Campus Echo at North Carolina Central University reported that NCCU was ranked 49th in the nation for quality and affordability among universities.

Institutions were judged on their size, the speed at which students graduate, the quality of facilities, faculty and staff ratios, cost in- and out-of-state tuition, and entrance exam scores.

All five schools were dropped from the top 100 when a filter was properly applied. This dropped those schools with SAT scores below a certain level.

"N.C. Central should have been off the list after the first cut because their entrance exam scores were below the average that we set," McCormally told The Campus Echo.

"We set a minimum average combined SAT score for the freshman class and after publication we discovered that the SAT screen had been properly applied."

The cut-off point for the SAT scores Kiplinger set was 1030, or a range of 950 to 1140. N.C. Central scores ranged from 780 to 930, clearly under the cut off level.

The letter sent to university chancellors was written by Fred Frailey, editor of the magazine.

The Campus Echo was unable to obtain a copy of the letter, but an e-mail from McCormally explained the error and provided a quote from the letter written to Chancellor James Ammons Jr.

It stated: "North Carolina Central University has a long and proud tradition of excellence in higher education. The fact that it rose into the top 100 based on its strengths outside of test scores is a testament to that tradition."

Roland Gaines, director of enrollment management, Roland Gaines said NCCU admits students with low SAT scores in order to educate those who have been underprivileged.

"We take students that may not enroll at other places and mold them into great students and people," he said.

"The survey is over and what matters is that the word is out that we are a great institution and our students can succeed."

A version of this article appeared in The Campus Echo at North Carolina Central University.