CEDARVILLE — College students want to receive the best education at the most economical cost. According to SmartAsset, an independent tech company that addresses financial questions, Cedarville University is the best value among Christian universities in Ohio.

“What makes Cedarville University such a good value is seeing how successful our graduates are in their lives and in the workforce,” said Jeff Reep, director of career services. “So many of our students are working for well-known companies and have been prepared by faculty who see the big picture, not just the four white walls of their classroom. Our programs are exceeding national standards and students are receiving a good return on their investment.”

The study ranked schools based on scholarships provided, tuition, living costs, retention rate and starting salary for graduates.

Cedarville students’ tuition is the second lowest among all private universities on the list, and it has the lowest student living costs ($8,600 annually) among all Ohio universities in the report. The university’s student retention rate of 86 percent is sixth in the Ohio survey, and the starting salary for its graduates is nearly $47,000.

In its state-by-state rankings of private, public, secular, and Christian universities, SmartAsset ranked Case Western Reserve University as the best value in the Buckeye state. It was followed closely by Ohio State University, the University of Dayton and the University of Cincinnati, and Cedarville University.