Which public colleges are the best education values?

Kiplinger's Personal Finance is out with the newest rankings of the 100 best education values in the United States. Kiplinger's chose the top 100 public schools that it said combine "outstanding value with a first-class education."

Topping the list for the sixth time was the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The February edition of Kiplinger's Personal Finance noted that UNC students pay $13,584 or less. It said they get small classes, a top-notch faculty and a supportive environment that enables 84 percent of students to earn a degree within six years.

Tuition at four-year public universities is on the rise, up 35 percent since 2001, and Kiplinger cited cuts in state funding, combined with rising costs for construction, utilities and employee benefits.

But it's not all bad news. "The real crunch in public-college costs that existed for a couple of years has let up," the College Board's Sandy Baum told Kiplinger, citing a stronger economy and rebounding state appropriations. "Increases in tuition and fees are lower."

Fees for this year increased 6.3 percent, which amounts to $344, Kiplinger reported. That bumped the average annual tab for tuition and fees at a four-year public school to $5,836, and the yearly total, including room and board, to $12,796, the magazine said. Even with the increased fees, those public university fees still were less than half the cost of a private-school education, which averages $30,367 a year.

The magazine reported that when taking tax benefits and financial aid into account, a public-school education great, comparing an in-state student's fees to the cost of a new TV. The report said that an in-state student who received average aid paid $2,799 a year in tuition and fees, which is reportedly about the price of a 50-inch plasma TV. That student's total annual bill would be just $10,000.

The list was different than last year's rankings. Some schools jumped into the top 20, while others lost some ranking position. Georgia Institute of Technology moved up 17 places, to No. 13. Kiplinger reported that the school improved retention and graduation rates and increased financial aid. But the news wasn't so good for the University of Illinois, which fell 22 places. Kiplinger cited increased tuition and lowering of need-based aid in half.

Top 10 In-State Schools

1.) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2.) University of Florida
3.) College of William and Mary (Va.)
4.) University of Virginia
5.) Binghamton University (SUNY)
6.) New College of Florida
7.) SUNY Geneseo
8.) University of California, San Diego
9.) University of Washington
10.) University of Georgia