Ohio Northern University is one of the nation’s best universities in terms of “value-added,” and fourth in the state of Ohio, according to a new report published by the Brookings Institution.

The report draws on government and private sources to analyze colleges and universities in terms of “the difference between actual alumni outcomes (like salaries) and the outcomes one would expect given a student’s characteristics and type of institution.” The study is designed to assess how well colleges and universities contribute to their graduates’ economic success.

Using a variety of private and public data sources, Brookings developed a method to measure three outcomes related to a college graduate’s career: mid-career earnings, occupational earnings power and loan repayment rate. Each of these outcomes was measured on a 100-point scale.

ONU received a rating of 99 for mid-career earnings, 89 for occupational earnings power and 95 for loan repayment rate.

The report, titled “Beyond College Rankings: A Value-Added Approach for Assessing Two- and Four-Year Schools” was published April 29.

According to the Brookings these value-added measures more accurately predict the economic outcomes for students, say the report’s authors. “The data contained in this report can provide a starting point for investigating a college’s strengths and weaknesses with respect to career preparation,” they write. The authors add that students should also consider cost of attendance, scholarship opportunities, the availability of degree programs and other factors.