The cost of college has skyrocketed. Over the past 30 years, the average cost of tuition and fees at private four-year colleges has more than doubled, and costs for in-state students attending public colleges have tripled after adjusting for inflation, according to the College Board. For the 2018-19 academic year, the average sticker price at private nonprofit colleges, including tuition, fees, and room and board, was $48,510. The average sticker price at public colleges was $21,370 for in-state students and $37,430 for out-of-state students, according to the College Board. Most families will pay far less after financial aid awards are applied. Still, sky-high sticker prices, growing student debt and relatively flat family wages have families examining their college options more closely.

To help you sort through your options, Kiplinger's presents an expanded version of our annual best college values list. This year, for the first time, we've named 400 schools to our best values list, plus 100 schools that narrowly missed our list but also deliver great value for your educational buck. The 20 schools featured here top our combined list, which compares private universities, private liberal arts colleges and public colleges (using out-of-state costs) to help you compare your options side by side.

All of the schools on our list meet our definition of value: a high-quality education at an affordable price. Quality always comes first. We start by examining academic measures, including the test scores of incoming freshmen, the percentage of students who return for sophomore year, and graduation rates. On the financial side, we look for schools with affordable sticker prices, generous financial aid for students who qualify, and low student debt at graduation.

These 20 schools top our combined list for their blend of academic quality and affordability.

1. Thomas Aquinas College

This small liberal arts college, located 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles on the edge of the Los Padres National Forest, tops our combined best values list for the first time. Thomas Aquinas College racks up points on the financial side of the equation with a sticker price that's nearly 30% lower than the average for four-year private colleges and half that of many other schools on our best values list. Thomas Aquinas, which will open a second campus in Massachusetts this August, also heads our list of private liberal arts colleges, which are ranked separately from private universities to account for their different missions.

This Catholic college has no majors, minors or electives. Instead, Thomas Aquinas combines the traditions and teachings of the Catholic Church with a "Great Books" education focused on the original works of great philosophers, historians, mathematicians, poets, scientists