It’s that time of year again when various outlets will release their college rankings for the next year. Every year, students across the country race to read these lists to decide which schools to apply to. However, there are a few issues with that strategy. Here are several things you need to know about the new college rankings.
- There is no set ranking system – This is why various outlets provide different rankings. So, if you are going to trust a particular ranking system, you need to know how they score the schools.
- Rank doesn’t equal program quality – Other factors like long-term reputation or certain amenities may move a college up the list even though they have done little to improve the academic programs themselves.
- Consider the possible influences – Some ranking systems are public information, but if a source is not forthcoming, could some of the rankings be “sponsored” financially?
- No one is thinking about your wallet – Affordability is not a major criterion in any ranking system we know of. So, if keeping student loans to a minimum is important to you and your family, college rankings may hold little use.
Preparing College Lists and More
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