Should You Pay Attention To College And University Ranking Publications?
College and university rankings are one way of knowing a school’s performance based on several categories. They are worthy guides to selecting the right college for teenagers and parents although they need not be the sole consideration in college selection. With higher education becoming so costly these days, parents and students have the right to learn whether the high tuition they pay will be spent well.
Rankings measure the value of a college or university based on certain factors. They are based on a survey conducted by publishers among colleges, universities and students to gather information on a number of factors. These factors include the number of students enrolled, student-to-teacher ratios, availability of financial aid, demographics, quality of life and availability of sports and extra-curricular activities, among many others. The U.S. News Best Colleges, Princeton Review and Washington Monthly College Rankings are the popular college and university ranking publications. The other resources for college rankings include Kiplinger’s Guide, Campus Dirt and Best 361 College Rankings.
The U.S. News, being the most popular source of college rankings, classifies each school based on its mission while universities and colleges offering undergraduate and master’s programs are ranked based on location. Universities focusing on research and offering doctoral programs are ranked separately from liberal arts colleges. Data are then gathered from each school in 15 areas in connection with academic excellence. Schools covered in the rankings are regionally accredited and have at least 200 students enrolled. U.S. News uses seven indicators to measure academic quality – peer assessment, retention and graduation of students, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni donation and graduate rate performance.
It does not always follow that top-ranked colleges and universities offer the best education, although they may be perceived as prestigious. These institutions, which attract a large number of students, may offer disadvantages such as big classes with only teacher assistants delivering instruction. This is in contrast to lesser ranked colleges where one-on-one interaction between students and fulltime professors is present thereby giving more value for the student.
Remember that the best college or university varies for every student. It should be an institution that maximizes a student’s potential to learn and gain knowledge. Choosing the best school should be based on the student’s own ranking system that involves educational goals, career objectives, admission requirements, degree and course offerings, transferability of credits, learning preferences, school’s reputation in the student’s chosen field of study, teacher-student ratios, campus location, housing options, student support services and cost of a college education.