Ok, So it’s pretty clear the top 5 are UNC, UVA, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Michigan. I was wondering how people at college confidential would rank them. I may be a bit biased but my ranking goes:
All are excellent!
To be honest, I think there is very little difference in how they rank. All of them are great institutions that will provide an excellent education to those seeking one. It really is a matter of what you are willing to put into your education. The resources and the information to excel at any one of these institutions is available. It is up to the student to see it through. You could be at anyone of these fine institutions, but if you do nothing with it, it doesn’t amount to much.
What are the criteria that are used for ranking them?
I would agree with the above posters that all are excellent; and, like any college or university (whatever the ranking), what you get out of it is related to what you put in to it. Nothing happens by osmosis.
Michigan and Berkeley are more internationally renowned than unc and uva and have better engineering and business schools than the other 3. (Unc doesn’t even have an engineering school) All the other academics among the 5 are comparable. Berkeley is most prestigious and Michigan is the most well rounded with practically every program top ranked and amazing sports,spirit, and academics. In all global rankings Berkeley and Michigan will be the top 2 publics
All of these schools are excellent. What matters is what you do and take advantage of while there.
I agree overall ranks doesn’t tell the whole story. What matters is what school gives the best opportunies and education for your major. All schools have strong and weak majors. As mention above, UNC is a lousy school for engineering unless you are looking at Biomedical engineering which is the only engineering degree they offer.