@Mastodon, I can run the numbers with academic rep taken out of the mix, but given the US News emphasis on financial resources, selectivity, grad rates, alumni donations,and metrics related to financial resources (class size, ratios of students to faculty), the rankings would tilt further toward private elites, and not so elites. Many rankings acknowledge the quality of public university faculties, and they are not based only on peer assessments. One should keep in mind that I am writing for prospective honors students, most of whom could do well in any university. Again, for them, the admitted negatives of large public research universities, especially large classes, can be be reduced or eliminated.