<p>Forbes rankings are a bit… wrong? The criteria are odd. Average debt? Salary? I mean, I don’t think anyone would claim that an education at Dartmouth is significantly greater than an education at Columbia, but the mid-career salary of the former ($127k) is significantly greater than that of the latter ($100k).</p>
<p>Average debt of my two Ss? Zero. What does this prove? That their parents can afford to pay full fare. Nothing to do with the quality of their education at institutions ranked very differently.</p>
<p>Marite, you should not forget to buy listings in the Who is Who for your children. Those volumes are such crowd pleasers when displayed correctly in the family library.</p>
<p>If you can afford to graduate debt-free, you surely can afford the fees for the Who is Who! :)</p>
<p>It’s totally not my cup of tea (or anyone’s in my family) but I’m glad to see the military academies get their due. The level of academic and non-academic achievment expected at these schools is quite extraordinary.</p>
<p>xiggi: I do so agree, and what about the National Collegiate whatchamacallit? and why not bumperstickers… the possibilities are endless. :)</p>
<p>this is an absurd list!!! Out of top 60, only one public school: William & Mary (ranked 48). Top ranks heavily dominated by small LACs. A college called Principia college with total student body of 500+, mere 50 faculty members (good luck if you are looking to do research in your area of interest: there may not be any faculty that covers that field), 84% acceptance rate and SAT range of 1000-1270 (I assume 25-75%) better ranked (57) than UC Berkeley (73) and UPenn (83rd). You’ve got to be kidding me!!!</p>
<p>No offense to Principia college, and I am sure it’s a swell school for whatever student body they are serving, and I hate to single this school out, but this just shows you how absurd this list is! </p>
<p>So, what kind of ranking system comes out with a list that puts all sorts of tiny colleges without research strength, competitive student body to provide rigorous peer environment and (good natured) challenges, faculty with international renown, a wide range of career resources and opportunities on top of the nation’s reputable public institutions with world wide renown and diversified student body from all over the world that enhance education of other students (a must in this era of globalization)</p>
<p>(disclaimer, S1 is not going to UC Berkely or any public school this fall or UPenn, and S2 is not likely either in two years).</p>
<p>I think that lists like these are kind of fun. Don’t take them seriously. </p>
<p>Read the list writer’s criteria and then take a peek: how did your favorite colleges fare under this list writer’s criteria? Did any colleges you have never heard of do particularly well? </p>
<p>Entertainment.</p>
<p>All the ranking systems have their own quirks and use various methodology. US News ranks on the endowment and “reputation”. Neither of which mean much.</p>
<p>
The top ranked school IS a public school as is the USAFA and USNA.</p>
<p>katliamom - you are right. West Point has a long tradition of producing leaders not only for the military but in the business world and public service after their service.
Quite a few go on to prestigious graduate programs at Harvard, Princeton and other top schools.
I think West Point got an edge with the number of graduate scholarship winners.
They had 13 winners this year:
[USMA</a> Office of the Dean](<a href=“http://www.dean.usma.edu/Scholarships/default.cfm]USMA”>http://www.dean.usma.edu/Scholarships/default.cfm)</p>
<p>JustMom of 4:</p>
<p>Yes, I know the service academies are public, but I always thought of them in a separate category on their own in that they are not for general population: the applicants are a special bunch with a different goals, aspirations, and “endurance” (and I mean this in a VERY positive way) who are willing to have a four years of college life in a sort of military environment (how many teenagers aspire to it???) and willing to serve in a battle zone if push comes to shove for umpteen years after graduation? </p>
<p>My S2 is an ROTC hopeful, and a die hard military type: even so, he wants to go to a college with normal college experience outside of his ROTC duties.</p>
<p>By the way, I have enormous respect for the young men and women who have the discipline, dedication, and brilliance to be accepted into and graduate form one of the service academies!!! I would be just as proud if my child goes to any one of these as I would be if he is in HYP.</p>
<p>If they factored in graduate longevity, the ranking might change.</p>
<p>
Wow. Just Wow. Not sure how to take it but that was just plain mean.
No wait - ungrateful. That’s probably it. Ungrateful.</p>
<p>When considering colleges, most students don’t give a first or second thought to discipline. Too many prefer the beer-can-crushing-against-forehead, late morning or early afternoon classes, spring break in exotic locale, party lifestyle.</p>
<p>Fine. But, putting myself in the shoes of someone who is out to hire clever, hard-working, engaged, and tested leaders, give me a West Point grad any day. My hat is off to these young men and women.</p>
<p>I admire the dedication of those young people at the service academies. One of my dear friends has twin sons at the Air Force Academy. Her boys are standout gems on any scale.</p>
<p>We are fortunate to have young men like them.</p>
<p>My son, the son of a hippie, sixties person, resembles me, and would not be a good candidate for a service academy, but I can still respect and admire those who are.</p>
<p>
Yep. They’re not for those of us of the non-heterosexual persuasion, at least. </p>
<p>I’ll take Harvard, thank you very much. 
</p>
<p>
They are more like the “general population” than you would think. They have a very diverse group of kids from all backgrounds, walks of life, parts of the US.
Of course, the military environment is there - some like it, some tolerate it and others hate it. Not true that there are no gay Cadets but that issue is controlled by Congress and beyond the scope of this discussion.
While they are required to attend class, many do spring break in exotic locales, and they “find a way” to have a party.</p>
<p>hyeonjlee - your son should take a look. It’s not for everyone but it won’t hurt and he just might discover that there are amazing opportunities at West Point. For instance, The Commandants goal is for every single cadet to go abroad. Some go for a semester, some for spring break and others go during the summer. They go to exotic locales like China, Bahrain, Germany and Israel to name a few.</p>
<p>Interesting that people don’t think of West Point as public. When I tell people that we are public school advocates, I say that my husband graduated from the “Ultimate Public School: West Point.” Though I only know one Ivy League graduate, I know many West Point graduates, and they received fabulous educations while participating in sports and completing their military training. USMA is a different world. And one of the most interesting things is that I doubt that the USMA purposefully takes any action that would place it on any Forbes list. I don’t know that the Ivies could say that.</p>
<p>MD Mom: Congratulations on your H receiving such a fine education. I think it’s quite nice that Forbes recognized the caliber of the institution.</p>
<p>With the exception of West Point, most engineering-focused universities are near the bottom of the list.</p>
<p>I would have thought they’d pick Hillsdale because it takes no government money at all. BTW, you can subscribe to an interesting newsletter that Hillsdale sends out free of charge. Go to their website.</p>
<p>Interesting that Forbes picks a government-funded school.</p>
<p>Thanks mythmom–he also served our country for 27 years after graduation.</p>