ANGOLA, IN - Trine University made a huge jump in this year's "Best Colleges in America for Your Money" list by Money, climbing more than 200 places to rank 194th in the nation and seventh among Indiana colleges and universities.

Money said the rankings, released Aug. 25, put more weight on affordability factors this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic downturn. Trine University President Earl D. Brooks II, Ph.D., said that change may have played into the university's abrupt rise.

The Money team also examined factors such as graduation rates, tuition fees, student debt and career earnings. To find the schools that successfully combine quality and affordability, the organization said it weighed more than 20,000 data points, including tuition fees, family borrowing and career earnings.

The resulting list consists of 739 colleges where students are likely to graduate with affordable debt levels and go on to earn a livable wage.