<p>THE BAD:</p>
<p>We dropped out of the top 25 for the first time ever. Michigan has been ranked between #21 and #25 for the last 15 years, so #26 isn't exactly a significant drop, but there is a psychological element to consider.</p>
<p>THE GOOD:</p>
<p>Ross tied for third (#3 in Finance and #1 in Management) and Engineering is ranked #7 (top 10 in every single concentration, including #2 in Mechanical Engineering).</p>
<p>Furthermore, in two majors sections (Peer Assessment score and Selectivy), Michigan did ok. Our PA was low, but at 4.4, still in the same range as its peers (Cal, Cornell, Northwestern, Penn and UVa). Selectivity was also fine, higher than Chicago, Johns Hopkins, UCLA and UVa.</p>
<p>Overall, I would not worry too much about the USNWR rankings. Whether we are ranked #21 or#29 doesn't matter. As long as our students are respected by graduate school adcoms and corporate recruiters, who cares what the average shmoe thinks. In the meanwhile, we get one of the best educations at one of the finest universities on Earth in one of the coolest college towns on Earth.</p>
<p>hail to the Victors</p>
<p>I find it startling that despite doing better in selectivity rankings and maintaining its Bussiness/Engineering rankings and PA scores, we dropped down to 26. US news favors private schools way too much. Schools like Berekeley, Michigan and UVA should be in the top 20.</p>
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hail to the Victors
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<p>dittoed.</p>
<p>Mightynick, I agree. The USNWR is too statistics driven. But over time, statistics will even out, most universities will have similar numbers to report and what will separate universities is quality of faculty, breadth and depth of curricula and research output.</p>
<p>Read Rugg's Recommendation, the bible for high school college counselors. It lists the majors at each college and university that are considered outstanding. Michigan has THE longest list of outstanding majors among all U.S. colleges and universities -- three times as many as some Ivies and an even higher ratio than many of those small liberal arts schools that get top US News rankings. Those rankings are a journalistic folly, based in part on marketing numbers put up strictly for these rankings. For example, some schools encourage high numbers of applications, even among students who have absolutely no chance of admission. Why? Makes the place seem more selective. That bears on rankings.</p>
<p>If you want a great university that makes your average top-10 liberal arts college look like a prep school, be happy with Michigan!</p>