<p>The self-reported USNWR stats can be heavily manipulated. USNWR is perhaps accurate to within about 10 spots in terms of an overall ranking, but that’s about it. Also, the overall “raw score” is more important than the numerical “ranking” – if you look at the raw score, HYP are basically tied at the top and then there’s a big gap with many schools in the 88/100, 89/100, 90/100 range, which I would consider basically tied. Many of USNWR’s specific statistical categories, particularly those having to do with faculty resources, are completely flawed in almost every imaginable way, as I’ve explained in detail on other threads here.</p>