Current Rankings

What you should know about College rankings

• look at what factors go into the rankings

Criteria such as "reputation," selectivity, faculty resources, and alumni giving often go into the ranking.  Think about what factors will affect the quality of your college experience.

• Don't give too much credence to the details of a ranking.

The differences between rankings of 19th and 31st can be insignificant.

• Many colleges play the "rankings game."

For example, "selectivity" can be artificially improved.  Here's how:
If a college accepts 100 of 200 applicants, its selectivity is 50%.  But if the same college artificially increases the number of applicants (with and easy online form, for example) to 300, its selectivity is now 33%.  As a result, the college's ranking goes up, but has the quality of education really improved?

• Rankings can be useful, in limited ways.

Rankings and college guides can provide basic background information about a school.  More specialized college guides will have more in-depth information.  Look to see if the qualities emphasized are values you share.

Rankings and guides can suggest some colleges that you might not have thought about.  Use these lists to help you generate possibilities.

Although rankings can help in a college search, they should never be the deciding factor in your choice.