(MONEY Magazine) – Whether your kid is interested in science or sociology, small school or large, he or she can find a great deal on the following pages. Our value rankings list more than 175 schools that offer a terrific payoff for the price. Along with MONEY's top 100 choices--and the 50 runners-up--we've identified spectacular values in specialty schools, public colleges and schools that charge a lot but are well worth it. We have also listed the best buys in each geographical area, the top values among small liberal arts schools and unbeatable deals--colleges that charge no tuition.

Among this year's winners are three MONEY perennials: Caltech, Rice University and New College of the University of South Florida, which have been in our top 10 since we began these rankings eight years ago. Two schools that made the top 10 last year, University of Texas-Austin and St. Mary's College of Maryland, have dropped out, but they remain in the top 25 for the eighth straight year. They have been replaced in the top 10 by the State University of New York-Geneseo and University of Florida, moving up from No. 21 and No. 14, respectively. For an explanation of how we rank the schools, see page 115.