Rank these universities

[Applekid5]

<p>I'd appreciate if anyone could help me rank some universities. I realize the politically correct thing to say with universities of very similar caliber is that they are equals, but I'm trying to narrow things down as best I can. I also know that "you can't accurately rank universities" and that "one size doesn't fit all" but I'm just looking for a general opinion on overall undergraduate reputation and undergraduate excellence. </p>

<p>How would you rank the following:</p>

<p>Brown, Cornell, Northwestern, Duke, USC, Michigan, JHU, Vanderbilt, Penn, UCLA.</p>

<p>I realize this is subjective but that's fine and I'm just looking for some varying perspectives. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

[q12157]

<p>I’m not entirely sure lol…
But check this site out
[National</a> University Rankings | Top National Universities | US News Best Colleges](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities]National”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities)</p>

[rjkofnovi]

<p>“I realize the politically correct thing to say with universities of very similar caliber is that they are equals.”</p>

<p>These universities of very similar caliber are all equals.</p>

[andy09]

<p>Michigan is the best all-around collegiate experience. A lot depends on what you want to study. I.e michigan is tops for engineering, penn is the best undergraduate business program etc. </p>

<p>Sent from my Desire HD using CC</p>

[20more]

<p>Penn
Duke
JHU
NW
Brown
Cornell
Vanderbilt
Michigan
UCLA
USC</p>

[happy1]

<p>They are all excellent universities. If you are into rankings, look at the USNWR. But much more important than rankings, especially when all the schools are so strong, consider which school is the best fit for you in terms many factors including: what you want to study, where you want to live, the type of atmosphere you are looking for, where you felt most comfortable, if you want big time sports or that is not important, etc. Look beyond the rankings to find the school that is the best choice for you.</p>

[warblersrule]

<p>

@Applekid5

I also know that “you can’t accurately rank universities” and that “one size doesn’t fit all”

If you know it, then why are you asking? :rolleyes:</p>

<p>Of the schools on your list, I’ve attended both Duke and UCLA. I couldn’t even begin to figure out how to rank one over the other. They’re very different universities – not better or worse, just different. The differences in location, students, and general atmosphere absolutely dwarf any academic differences. </p>

<p>Visiting can help you make decisions if you’re unsure. I absolutely loved Brown on paper but hated it in person. I had the opposite experience at Penn – visited it mostly since I was in the area and completely loved it.</p>

[Ivyt]

<p>Intended major?</p>

[Alexandre]

<p>I agree with warblersrule, if there is a difference in quality between those universities, even between the “best” and the “worst”, it would be truly insignificant. Far more pronounced is the difference in campus location, environment, culture etc…between those universities. Where would you be happiest?</p>

[goldenboy8784]

<ol>
<li>Penn/Duke</li>
<li>Brown/NW</li>
<li>Cornell</li>
<li>Vanderbilt</li>
<li>Michigan</li>
<li>USC/UCLA</li>
</ol>

[BuBBLES_FoR_SALE]

<p>Penn/Duke
NW
Brown
Cornell
Vanderbilt/JHU
Michigan/UCLA
USC</p>

[kimfuge88]

<p>I agree with the wise responses from Warblersrule and Alexandre. However, because we’re on CC, here’s my opinion:</p>

<p>Penn
Duke
Northwestern
Brown
Cornell
Michigan/JHU
Vanderbilt/UCLA
USC</p>

[tk21769]

<p>This site shows 6 different rankings for each of 50 “top” colleges (including the ones considered here in this thread):
[50</a> Top Colleges](<a href=“http://50topcolleges.com/]50”>http://50topcolleges.com/)</p>

<p>UCLA … #3 Wash Monthly - #134 State University
UPenn … #5 USNWR - #112 State University
Duke … #5 State University - #41 Forbes
Brown … #7 revealed preference - #63 Wash Monthly
Cornell … #7 State University - #70 Forbes
Michigan … #7 Wash Monthly - #92 Forbes
Northwestern … #12 USNWR - #65 Wash Monthly
JHU … #13 USNWR - #88 Forbes
Vanderbilt … #17 USNWR - #48 State University
USC … #23 USNWR - #122 State University</p>

<p>Criteria
USNWR ([Methodology:</a> Undergraduate Ranking Criteria and Weights - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2012/09/11/methodology-undergraduate-ranking-criteria-and-weights-2]Methodology:”>http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2012/09/11/methodology-undergraduate-ranking-criteria-and-weights-2))<br>
…undergraduate reputation 22.5
… selectivity 15%
… faculty resources 20%
… graduation & retention rates 20%
… financial resources 10%
… alumni giving 5%
… graduation rate performance 7.5%</p>

<p>State University ([About</a> StateUniversity.com’s School Rankings - StateUniversity.com](<a href=“http://www.stateuniversity.com/about/rank]About”>About StateUniversity.com's School Rankings))

The primary difference between StateUniversity.com college rankings and other popular ranking systems is the absence of peer evaluation and peer surveys…
StateUniversity.com uses many different measures in determining the rank of a particular school. The most important factors are a school’s ACT/SAT scores, its student retention, faculty salary, and student / faculty ratio.

</p>

<p>Washington Monthly ([The</a> Washington Monthly - The Magazine - A Note on methodology: 4-year colleges and universities](<a href=“http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/septemberoctober_2012/features/a_note_on_methodology_4year_co_1039359.php]The”>http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/septemberoctober_2012/features/a_note_on_methodology_4year_co_1039359.php))

We rate schools based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: Social Mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), Research (producing cutting-edge scholarship and PhDs), and Service (encouraging students to give something back to their country).

</p>

<p>Forbes
([Methodology</a> - Forbes.com](<a href=“http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/01/best-colleges-methodology-opinions-colleges-10-ccap.html]Methodology”>Methodology))
…Student Satisfaction (27.5%)
…Postgraduate Success (30%)
…Student Debt (17.5%)
…Four-year Graduation Rate (17.5%)
…Competitive Awards (7.5%)</p>

<p>Revealed Preference
([A</a> Revealed Preference Ranking of U.S. Colleges and Universities](<a href=“http://www.nber.org/papers/w10803]A”>http://www.nber.org/papers/w10803))

Our statistical model extends models used for ranking players in tournaments, such as chess or tennis. When a student makes his matriculation decision among colleges that have admitted him, he chooses which college “wins” in head-to-head competition. The model exploits the information contained in thousands of these wins and losses.

</p>

<p>Observations:
5 of these 10 schools get their highest rankings from USNWR, which rewards school reputations based on subjective peer assessments. The other rankings are based largely on statistical measurements of school & student performance. Only 3 of these 10 schools get a top 10 ranking from rankings that include LACs (State University, Forbes, Revealed Preference). 8 of the 10 get their lowest rankings from State University or Forbes; none get their lowest rankings from USNWR.</p>

<p>Implications? Some of the top national universities may be over-rated by US News (if you accept the criteria & underlying data of the other rankings.)</p>