Before applying to a US college, there's a good chance you've checked its rankings. As you can guess, these rankings are used to differentiate between academic institutions and determine which one would give you a better education.
College rankings are especially important for employers. When having to choose between two candidates with similar portfolios, recruiters commonly opt for the one who studied at a higher-ranked college. Although this might sound a bit elitist, there's a reason why it's done.
To understand the role of college rankings, we've created a short article that explains the concept. After reading it, you'll understand why it's so important to get into higher-tier schools.
Every year, websites such as Forbes publish lists of the best US colleges. They take into account various things, such as the faculty, curricula, campus, student aid, and so on. The best colleges should not only teach the best lessons, but they should also be as accessible as possible.
It's worth noting that each of these ranking websites has its own methodology when deciding on rankings. For example, certain platforms will prioritize the average alumni giving rate. Others will prioritize diversity score or earning potential after graduating.
"While these rankings are important, they're not the be-all and end-all for students," warns H&C Education Consulting. "Going to one of the top 50 US colleges will provide you with ample opportunities to land a dream job and get a premium education."
It's obvious why students would care about these rankings, but did you know that placement is equally as important for universities? Reaching top-ranking tiers allows an institution to fundraise, recruit top-tier faculty, and apply for state grants.
Of course, there are also the bragging rights. Most of these US colleges have been around for ages, so their main goal is to be recognized as the best in the world. The majority of them are for-profit, which means their rankings will have a direct impact on how much money they can make during a school year.
Each one of these institutions is different. No matter how many lists you read and how many websites you visit, you'll never know which college is actually the best. Your choice of college might also vary based on your educational goals.
For example, if you're looking for business programs, you should prioritize Harvard or Yale, while MIT is fantastic for engineers. We also have to mention that these rankings can be split into three categories: general universities, arts schools, and research universities.
It is often hard to make a real comparison between colleges, although it always pays off to go to an elite institution. Even if you end up detesting your university experience, you'll still leave with knowledge that you can cash in on and that would serve as a basis for further education somewhere else.
As mentioned, these ranking websites use several criteria to create their lists. While these ranking factors vary significantly from platform to platform, the most common ones include:
An interesting thing about these factors is that they're quite flexible. Each website has its own methodology, and many of them change it over time.
Another thing you must keep in mind is that ranking websites usually take into account only the official data. Although this data is accurate, it doesn't provide complete insights about the campus life and the prospects after graduation.
The best colleges in the US get tens of thousands of applicants each year. To make matters worse, these are some of the brightest minds from across the world. As a result, these top-tier institutions have to be highly selective when admitting freshmen.
As their online rankings become better and better, more and more people will apply to their programs. This, in turn, forces the top-ranked colleges to deny many applicants. Alternatively, some of them regularly increase tuition or impose other barriers to enrolment.
You must remember that the top-ranked schools usually have similar selection processes and similarly high percentages of denials.
The biggest question you must ask yourself is, how important are these rankings for your enrolment? We suggest that instead of focusing on colleges' reputation, you focus on the fit. For example, it is much more important to find a college with the right curriculum and faculty.
You should also analyze their culture, location, financial aid, and other factors. That way, not only will you have a great college experience, but you'll also get a degree that will help you out in life. Visit their campus, talk to professors and students, and make a deep analysis before making a college shortlist.
Although getting into one of the best US colleges is a dream come true for many high school students, it shouldn't be your main priority. Create a list with one or two great schools, and add several lower-ranked alternatives. That way, you won't have anything to lament about.
While college rankings give you a good idea of universities' quality, they are not the only factor when choosing a college. Instead, future freshmen should take into account the school's fit, as well as the realistic chance of paying off student loans.