Could anyone list these colleges in order of prestige? I know it is not the most important quality but definitely something to consider. Here are the colleges I am looking at:
-Lehigh
-Boston University
-University of Wisconsin-Madison
-Tulane
-VIllanova
-Northeastern
-Penn State
-Syracuse
-U Maryland
-Indiana University at Bloomington
-U Michigan
-UVA
-UT Austin
-U Southern California
Thanks!
It very much depends on the program, for example Syracuse would be the most prestige for communications, however USC would be the best for film. What major are you thinking of?
Have you looked at the US News rankings for national universities? While there is no perfect ranking different people will differ in opinions on prestige, that would be the quickest way to get a rough idea. Keep in mind that ranking may be different among different majors and there are some separate rankings for those.
Business @collegebound7789
You won’t get meaningful answer- prestige is in the eye of the beholder, and with (arguably!) just a couple of exceptions, there isn’t a big prestige range in your list.
Sometimes threads like this get really long as people throw different ranking systems around and argue why X is more prestigious than Y. Then you’ll get the UMi alum asserting that it is now ranked better than UVa and the USC student complaining that it’s reputation as the University of Spoiled Children was never deserved and would people please stop trotting out that old trope and the people who are into BB pointing out Villanova’s recent win and saying now maybe people will notice it’s ranking for business and then somebody will think to ask ‘what subject are you interested in’ and you will answer Z and a whole new round of debate will start.
You have a lot of state universities on there, and you can’t be in-state for more than 1-2 of them. So I would start with: can you really afford all of them? if not, dump the ones you can’t.
Then look at the ones that are left and ask yourself 'would I really be able for Syracuse (cold) or New Orleans (hot and muggy)? Do I want / need a city like Boston, or are the wilds of PA just fine? Do any of them a center of excellence in my subject area?
etc.
USNews or another ranking might be the best proxy, but even then there are a number of different views and rankings and factors such as major and program come into play (e.g. UT Austin engineering honors is perceived higher than UT in general). USNews often separates schools by a couple of points based on questionable data and criteria. In my view broad general tiers are really the best that can or should be done.
The schools you list are pretty close together, so this makes it even more difficult. If you threw Stanford in there, for instance, it would stand out. I think the ones you list all fall into just a couple of tiers. I’m not going to start a war by naming those tiers. I just think you should focus more on affordability and fit.
Is it time to bring back the “prestigiosity” thread? :))
I’ll bite – in terms of overall undergrad rep:
These are all good schools, though, so choose based on fit and finances.
Yes, you can look at some overall rankings. That has some limited usefulness. As noted, the answer depends very much on what you want to do after graduation and where you want to live. UVA might be the #1 if you want to go to Wall Street (just a guess really). But if you want to work in entertainment in LA then USC might be #1. If you want to go into manufacturing, then another one would probably be #1.
One thing to consider: all of these schools will host recruiters for national firms. Students will go to work all over the country, and internationally. AND there will be probably be a tendency or local and regional firms to recruit more often at a school, so you would be at least somewhat more likely to have internships, relationships, etc. with those firms, which would maybe make it easier to find employment in that region. So you might weight that a bit in your own personal ranking.
And remember, you will be the one living, learning, and meeting friends, peers, mentors at a school for four years. So really what you think of a place is much more important than what USNWR or anyone here thinks of a place. These are mostly mid- and large-size schools. But Lehigh, for example, is a very different place than USC. If there’s much difference in reputation and academics, go with what fits well for you. That will work out better, and it’s really how you do at any of these schools that’s the most important thing. Work hard, have fun, treat everyone with dignity and respect, and you’ll do well at all these schools. Good luck!
One important thing to consider in applying to business schools: sometimes business schools are direct admits and sometimes students have to apply after they have been studying at a college/university for a period of time. You will want to consider that.
Even if you got a ranking list, it won’t help you because rankings are only a matter of opinion. This is how you choose a college. Cost is the first thing. Also, debt is not your friend. The most you can take out in federal student loans for a 4 year degree is $27k. Your parents are expected to make up the difference. I see some very expensive private schools and a lot of schools in different states on that list. Are your parents prepared to spend $250k to put you through school? In all honesty, no degree is worth $250k unless it says M.D. next to it. Prestige is the single most overrated thing about college and it really should be close to the bottom of your priority list. Most employers are small to midsize companies that hire locally and regionally. A scholarship is a win-win for everyone, especially for you.
Second, should be your intended major or interests. Research majors and see what interests you. This is the thing that most high school students miss. You’ll find that majors vary A LOT between these colleges. If you have no idea what you want to major in, then you need to research until you at least have a rough idea. Some colleges are flexible with changing majors. Others, like UT-Austin, make it nearly impossible. Also, getting into a school is only half the battle. Some majors at certain schools are highly selective, and if you don’t get selected, you often have to study something you hate or transfer somewhere else.
Third, location. If you’re from a city like Houston, you will get bored and potentially depressed real fast in a college town like Stillwater, Oklahoma. Some cultures are friendly and welcoming. Others are more cliquish.
The prestige rating of your list will depend on which part of the country or world your point of view is from. On the east coast Northeastern>UW Madison, but the opposite would be true in the midwest.
Where do you want to live after graduation?
@Prezbucky has tiered them nicely. I might move Villanova up to the 2nd tier, but that is just my opinion.