Haverford is currently ranked #11 in best LACs on USNews, however I feel like it should be ranked higher because of the high stats (better than most LAC in the top 10), and rigorous/superb education and academic oppurtunities it offers. I believe Haverford is one of the best school’s in the country, and niche recognized this by placing it #4 in best LAC. Can someone please tell me why some rankings has it lower than it probably should be?
Any rating uses a number of metrics. It may weight them. Some may be collected in ways that may reflect opinion, not fact (i.e., asking GC their opinions of schools or asking academics to rate schools other than their own.) Factors that may not impact you, like alumni giving or size of endowment, may be part of the rating.
For that reason, few rating systems will measure and value exactly what you do. This is true of everything from USNWR for schools to Consumer Reports for cars. They are, however, a good place to start when you are figuring out what matters to you. (Niche collects its data in a far less rigorous and reliable way, btw.)
Haverford is a great school. So are all of the others in the top 50. They will also swap places in the ratings every year, but it’s unlikely that the student experience will change from year to year. All have their strengths. Most have a vibe that is it’s own. If this is the one that is calling your name, go for it! It seems that in what matters to you, it ranks very high. That’s all that matters!
Agree with @gardenstategal. Every magazine ranking skews toward a specific audience. Forbes tends to emphasize financial aid and tuition discounting that favors the middle class. Washington Monthly tends to emphasize the number of low-income students served by colleges. USNews is more or less a ranking of spending per student, thus the smaller the college, the more likely it will gravitate toward the top of the list (assuming it has at least a billion dollars in the piggy bank.)
Haverford would probably have to double its endowment in order to make a significant move in the USNews poll.
Number 11 out of thousands. In the United States of America. It’s so rarified with a global lens, it’s tough to really convey in our normal world view.
It’s fine at 11. It means it’s a faint dream for some, beyond consideration for many and literally not even perceived as an option in life for billions.
It’s pretty rarefied air already.
Thank you guys for your input. I just thought that given Haverford’s stats and reputation it most likely should be ranked higher. However, going back to what you guys said, many rankings go by different algorithms, and therefore it is difficult to come up with one ranking that takes into account everything in a holistic manner.
Old thread should not have been revived