<p>I think it is just nuts to rank the service academies with LACs in the first place. As Kat suggests, I very much doubt if very many students choose to pursue appointment to the academies because of the “free” education, or even pay all that much attention to the quality of the academics as opposed to other colleges, or think much about how much prestige it will give them after they leave the military. Those I’ve known, at least, were interested in a military career, and were willing to make a big, long-term commitment as college seniors–in my opinion, that’s a high cost in itself.</p>
<p>It would be better for the academies to decline to participate in such rankings, in my view.</p>