<p>
</p>
<p>The Princeton Review is an overly lame survey. Just take it for what it’s worth: something fun to read.</p>
<p>Had this info posted on another thread but it may be more appropriate here since there seem to be more critical opinions of UF.</p>
<p>I am attempting to use reliabale data to gauge the actual standing amongst the top state universities.
Currently per USNWR UF stands at no. 17 with one day trying to be a top 10 institution.
By the way I am actually using the USNWR data that everyone seems to be so enamored with.
The rankings referenced by MyOpinion are worthless, they just sell magazines for a brief period and are forever forgotten thereafter.</p>
<p>USNWR rankings for now seem to be the obstacle UF must prove itself against.</p>
<p>FIRST THE SAT AND HOW UF STACKS UP AGAINST THE CURRENT TOP SCHOOLS IN FRONT OF IT:
The following SAT 25-75 Percentile information comes from the attached site:</p>
<p>[College</a> Navigator - Compare Institutions](<a href=“College Navigator - Compare Institutions”>College Navigator - Compare Institutions)</p>
<p>You can compare all the vital data for up to 4 schools at a time.</p>
<p>State Ranking USNWR Ranking School Name SAT 25 -75 % </p>
<p>8 38t UWisconsin 1180-1380
9 38t UC San Diego 1140-1360
10 38t Illinois 1190-1410</p>
<p>11 42t Washington 1080-1320
12 42t UC Davis 1030-1280
13 44t UT Austin 1090-1350
14 44t UC SBarbara 1050-1290
15 44t UC Irvine 1080-1290
16 48 Penn State 1080-1280
17 49 UF 1140-1360</p>
<p>Rankings SORTED by SAT only:</p>
<p>10 38t Illinois 1190-1410
8 38t UWisconsin 1180-1380
9 38t UC San Diego 1140-1360
17 49 UF 1140-1360</p>
<p>13 44t UT Austin 1090-1350
11 42t Washington 1080-1320
15 44t UC Irvine 1080-1290
16 48 Penn State 1080-1280
14 44t UC SBarbara 1050-1290
12 42t UC Davis 1030-1280</p>
<p>SAT CONCLUSION:
UF already has more competitive SAT’s scores than Penn State, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, UT Austin, UC Davis and Washington.</p>
<p>It is tied with current top 10 school UC San Diego.</p>
<p>UF has some work to do to catch up with the SAT’s for Illinois and Wisconsin but they are #8 & #9.</p>
<p>FACT: UF is already a top 10 state institution in terms of SAT selectivity.</p>
<p>Next we’ll look at acceptance rates.</p>
<p>The following Percent admitted information comes from the attached site:</p>
<p>[College</a> Navigator - Compare Institutions](<a href=“College Navigator - Compare Institutions”>College Navigator - Compare Institutions)</p>
<p>You can compare all the vital data for up to 4 schools at a time.</p>
<p>State Ranking / USNWR Ranking / School Name / Percent Admitted </p>
<p>8 38t UWisconsin 66%
9 38t UC San Diego 46%
10 38t Illinois 71%</p>
<p>11 42t Washington 65%
12 42t UC Davis 68%
13 44t UT Austin 51%
14 44t UC SBarbara 53%
15 44t UC Irvine 60%
16 48 Penn State 58%<br>
17 49 UF 42%</p>
<p>Rankings SORTED by Percent admitted only:</p>
<p>17 49 UF 42%
9 38t UC San Diego 46%
13 44t UT Austin 51%</p>
<p>16 48 Penn State 58%
15 44t UC Irvine 60%
14 44t UC SBarbara 53%
11 42t Washington 65%
8 38t UWisconsin 66%
12 42t UC Davis 68%
10 38t Illinois 71%</p>
<p>ACCEPTANCE RATE CONCLUSION:
UF already has more competitive rate than
EVERYONE AHEAD OF IT.</p>
<p>FACT: UF is already a top 10 state institution in terms of acceptance rate.</p>
<p>Next we’ll look at retention rates.</p>
<p>The following retention rate information comes from the attached site:</p>
<p>[College</a> Navigator - Compare Institutions](<a href=“College Navigator - Compare Institutions”>College Navigator - Compare Institutions)</p>
<p>You can compare all the vital data for up to 4 schools at a time.</p>
<p>State Ranking / USNWR Ranking / School Name / Retention rates </p>
<p>8 38t UWisconsin 93%
9 38t UC San Diego 95%
10 38t Illinois 93%</p>
<p>11 42t Washington 92%
12 42t UC Davis 91%
13 44t UT Austin 92%
14 44t UC SBarbara 91%
15 44t UC Irvine 94%
16 48 Penn State 94%<br>
17 49 UF 95%</p>
<p>Rankings SORTED by retention rates only:</p>
<p>17 49 UF 95%
9 38t UC San Diego 95%
15 44t UC Irvine 94%
16 48 Penn State 94%
8 38t UWisconsin 93%
10 38t Illinois 93%
11 42t Washington 92%
13 44t UT Austin 92%
12 42t UC Davis 91%
14 44t UC SBarbara 91%</p>
<p>RETENTION RATE CONCLUSION:
UF already has more competitive rate than
EVERYONE AHEAD OF IT TIED ONLY BY UCSD.</p>
<p>FACT: UF is already a top 10 state institution in terms of Retention Rates.</p>
<p>Next we’ll look at Cost of attendance since I believe it impacts some of the following numbers.</p>
<p>The following UG Cost of attendance information comes from the attached site:</p>
<p>[College</a> Navigator - Compare Institutions](<a href=“College Navigator - Compare Institutions”>College Navigator - Compare Institutions)</p>
<p>You can compare all the vital data for up to 4 schools at a time.</p>
<p>State Ranking / USNWR Ranking / School Name / Cost of attendance </p>
<p>8 38t UWisconsin $18,155
9 38t UC San Diego $22,524
10 38t Illinois $23,150</p>
<p>11 42t Washington $18,391
12 42t UC Davis $23,927
13 44t UT Austin $20,286
14 44t UC SBarbara $25,067
15 44t UC Irvine $23,052
16 48 Penn State $25,208<br>
17 49 UF $14,437</p>
<p>Rankings SORTED by Cost of attendance only:</p>
<p>17 49 UF $14,437
8 38t UWisconsin $18,155
11 42t Washington $18,391
13 44t UT Austin $20,286
9 38t UC San Diego $22,524
15 44t UC Irvine $23,052
10 38t Illinois $23,150
12 42t UC Davis $23,927
16 48 Penn State $25,208
14 44t UC SBarbara $25,067</p>
<p>UG COST OF ATTENDANCE CONCLUSION:
UF IS A BARGAIN TO ATTEND. LESS EXPENSIVE THAN EVERYONE AHEAD OF IT </p>
<p>FACT: This may however be a problem for UF in terms of resources available. Is an additional $10 K in tuition necessary to get UF near the top of this list ? Does UF even want to be near the top of this list. Or are those other institutions overcharging? If you went to PSU would you be angry that you pay $10K more than the school ranked right behind you?</p>
<p>Next we’ll look at Undergraduate enrollment since I also believe it impacts some of the following numbers.</p>
<p>The following UG Enrollment information comes from the attached site:</p>
<p>[College</a> Navigator - Compare Institutions](<a href=“College Navigator - Compare Institutions”>College Navigator - Compare Institutions)</p>
<p>You can compare all the vital data for up to 4 schools at a time.</p>
<p>State Ranking / USNWR Ranking / School Name / UG Enrollment </p>
<p>8 38t UWisconsin 30,166
9 38t UC San Diego 22,048
10 38t Illinois 30,895</p>
<p>11 42t Washington 28,570
12 42t UC Davis 23,478
13 44t UT Austin 37,459
14 44t UC SBarbara 18,415
15 44t UC Irvine 21,696
16 48 Penn State 36,815<br>
17 49 UF 35,189</p>
<p>Rankings SORTED by UG Enrollment only:</p>
<p>14 44t UC SBarbara 18,415
15 44t UC Irvine 21,696
9 38t UC San Diego 22,048</p>
<p>12 42t UC Davis 23,478
11 42t Washington 28,570
8 38t UWisconsin 30,166
10 38t Illinois 30,895
17 49 UF 35,189
16 48 Penn State 36,815
13 44t UT Austin 37,459 </p>
<p>UG ENROLLMENT CONCLUSION:
UF IS THE THIRD LARGEST UG INSTITUTION ON THIS LIST. ONLY PSU & UTA ARE LARGER. </p>
<p>FACT: Again this may be a problem for UF in terms of resources available. How many students is UF willing to cut to get to the top of this list.
I have no idea how the UCs can keep their universities so small. Has to be a big premium paid by the taxpayers of that state to keep them like that.
IF UF knocks out 4,000 students like they say they are that will put them closer to Wisconsin & Illinois numbers who are currently tied for 38th in the USNWR rankings.</p>
<p>Next we’ll look at the 6 yr graduation rates.</p>
<p>The following UG 6 yr graduation rates information comes from the attached site:</p>
<p>[College</a> Navigator - Compare Institutions](<a href=“College Navigator - Compare Institutions”>College Navigator - Compare Institutions)</p>
<p>You can compare all the vital data for up to 4 schools at a time.</p>
<p>State Ranking / USNWR Ranking / School Name / 6 yr graduation rate </p>
<p>8 38t UWisconsin 79%
9 38t UC San Diego 84%
10 38t Illinois 82%</p>
<p>11 42t Washington 75%
12 42t UC Davis 79%
13 44t UT Austin 78%
14 44t UC SBarbara 80%
15 44t UC Irvine 80%
16 48 Penn State 84%<br>
17 49 UF 81%</p>
<p>Rankings SORTED by 6 yr graduation rate only:</p>
<p>9 38t UC San Diego 84%
16 48 Penn State 84%<br>
10 38t Illinois 82%</p>
<p>17 49 UF 81%
14 44t UC SBarbara 80%
15 44t UC Irvine 80%
12 42t UC Davis 79%
8 38t UWisconsin 79%
13 44t UT Austin 78%
11 42t Washington 75%</p>
<p>6Yr GRADUATION RATE CONCLUSION:
UF RANKED # 11 JUST OUTSIDE THE TOP 10 BY 1%. </p>
<p>FACT: I was actually quite surprised by this given all the top party school and study the least nonsense you read out there.</p>
<p>Two things I see increasing the graduation rate number:
1- IF UF knocks out 4,000 students like they say they are that will help in actually getting the classes you need to graduate.
2- Lets face it, with tuition so low and Bright Futures picking up most of the cost there was no real incentive for students to graduate in 4 yrs. The raised tuition will be a catalyst to get them out faster.</p>
<p>Next we’ll look at the student / faculty ratios.</p>
<p>The following Student / Faculty ratio information comes from the attached site:</p>
<p>[Rankings</a> for 100 Best Values in Public Colleges](<a href=“http://content.kiplinger.com/tools/colleges/pubcollege.php?sortby=GRADRATE6&orderby=flop&states]Rankings”>http://content.kiplinger.com/tools/colleges/pubcollege.php?sortby=GRADRATE6&orderby=flop&states)[0]=ALL&myschool[0]=9188&myschool[1]=9445&myschool[2]=9151&myschool[3]=9472&myschool[4]=9148&myschool[5]=9414&myschool[6]=9153&myschool[7]=9217&myschool[8]=8107&myschool[9]=9145&outputby=table</p>
<p>You can compare all the vital data for up multiple schools at a time. The previous website referenced did not contain this info.</p>
<p>State Ranking / USNWR Ranking / School Name / Student Faculty ratio </p>
<p>8 38t UWisconsin 13/1
9 38t UC San Diego 19/1
10 38t Illinois 17/1</p>
<p>11 42t Washington 11/1
12 42t UC Davis 19/1
13 44t UT Austin 18/1
14 44t UC SBarbara 17/1
15 44t UC Irvine 19/1
16 48 Penn State 17/1<br>
17 49 UF 21/1</p>
<p>Rankings SORTED by Student / Faculty ratio only:</p>
<p>11 42t Washington 11/1
8 38t UWisconsin 13/1
16 48 Penn State 17/1 </p>
<p>10 38t Illinois 17/1
14 44t UC SBarbara 17/1
13 44t UT Austin 18/1
9 38t UC San Diego 19/1
15 44t UC Irvine 19/1
12 42t UC Davis 19/1
17 49 UF 21/1</p>
<p>STUDENT / FACULTY RATIO CONCLUSION:
UF RANKED LAST AT # 17 WITH A 21/1 RATIO.</p>
<p>FACT: Closest schools are UCSD, UCI and UCD with ratios of 19/1. Note however that UCSD was a top 10 with a ratio of 19/1.</p>
<p>Two things I see decreasing the student / faculty ratio number:
1- IF UF knocks out 4,000 students like they say they are that will help in reducing class sizes.
2- The raised tuition will help hire more professors.</p>
<p>Of special note however be aware that per the USNWR rankings this specific subcategory within the Faculty Resources main category is ONLY WORTH 1% of the total 100% score.
IMHO this ratio is NOT HURTING UF.</p>
<p>Next we’ll look at ???.</p>
<p>Very informative post xNYer…thanks.</p>
<p>I have to second that. Excellent work!</p>
<p>To become top 10 you need to know what it is that you are ultimatelly striving for.
Below I have dispersed the USNWR seven (7)major sections into their subsections and dispersed the % points accordingly.</p>
<p>USNWR therefore breaks down as follows:</p>
<p>USNWR SCORING CRITERIA / Subsection %</p>
<p>1-Peer Assesment- 25% TOTAL 25%</p>
<p>2-Graduation & Retention Rates-20% TOTAL<br>
a. 6 yr graduaton rate 16%
b. freshman retention rate 4%</p>
<p>3-Faculty Resources - 20% TOTAL<br>
a.Classes fewer than 20 6%
b. Classes of more than 50 2%
c. Faculty Salary 7%
d. Professors with highest degree 3%
e. Student Faculty ratio 1%
E. Percent of full time faculty 1%</p>
<p>4-Sudent Selectivity -15% TOTAL<br>
a. SAT / ACT 8%
b.Top 10% students 6%
c. Acceptance rate 2%</p>
<p>5-Financial Resources- 10% TOTAL<br>
a. Per student spending 10%</p>
<p>6-Grad Rate Performance- 5% TOTAL<br>
a. Actual vs Predicted 5%</p>
<p>7-Alumni Giving Rate- 5% TOTAL<br>
a. % of alumni who contributed 5%</p>
<p>Grand Total Points 100%</p>
<p>To become top 10 state university UF needs to focus on ALL of these points.
I will try to plug in where UF stands versus the other listed universities so far into this matrix.</p>
<p>USNWR SCORING CRITERIA Subsections UF
Peer Assesment- 25% TOTAL 25% </p>
<p>Graduation & Retention Rates<br>
a. 6 yr graduaton rate 16% / #11 ranking
b. freshman retention rate 4% / tied #8</p>
<p>Faculty Resources - 20% TOTAL<br>
a.Classes fewer than 20 6%<br>
b. Classes of more than 50 2%<br>
c. Faculty Salary 7%<br>
d. Professors with highest degree 3%<br>
e. Student Faculty ratio 1% / #17 ranking
E. Percent of full time faculty 1% </p>
<p>Sudent Selectivity -15% TOTAL<br>
a. SAT / ACT 8% / tied #10
b.Top 10% students 6%<br>
c. Acceptance rate 2% / #8 ranking</p>
<p>Financial Resources- 10% TOTAL<br>
a. Per student spending 10% </p>
<p>Grad Rate Performance- 55 TOTAL<br>
a. Actual vs Predicted 5% </p>
<p>Alumni Giving Rate- 5% TOTAL<br>
a. % of alumni who contributed 5% </p>
<p>Grand Total Points 100%</p>
<p>Worst so far is the faculty /student ratio. Again ,this is however only worth 1%.</p>
<p>Data is from 2007 USNWR magazine. Need new #'s</p>
<p>State Ranking / USNWR Ranking / School Name / Peer Assesment Score </p>
<p>8 38t UWisconsin /4.2
9 38t UC San Diego / 3.8
10 38t Illinois / 4.0</p>
<p>11 42t Washington / 3.9
12 42t UC Davis / 3.7
13 44t UT Austin / 4.1
14 44t UC SBarbara /3.5
15 44t UC Irvine / 3.6
16 48 Penn State / 3.8
17 49 UF / 3.6</p>
<p>Rankings SORTED by PeerAssesment only:</p>
<p>8 38t UWisconsin /4.2
13 44t UT Austin / 4.1
10 38t Illinois / 4.0
11 42t Washington / 3.9
9 38t UC San Diego / 3.8
16 48 Penn State / 3.8
12 42t UC Davis / 3.7
17 49 UF / 3.6
15 44t UC Irvine / 3.6
14 44t UC SBarbara / 3.5</p>
<p>PEER ASSESMENT CONCLUSION:
UF IS TIED FOR #16 WITH UC IRVINE. ONLY UCSB IS RANKED LOWER AT #17 WITH A 3.5</p>
<p>FACT: UC San Diego was ranked top 10 with a peer score of 3.8.
For a category that is worth 25% of the total USNWR rankings UF has A LOT OF WORK TO DO HERE with only a 3.6.</p>
<p>Hopefully it’s true that this category is going away.
I see no way of overcomming peer impressions of UF in a short period of time.</p>
<p>Next: Alumni Giving worth 5% per USNWR</p>
<p>Well, I went to two bookstores to find the 2008 USNews College Rankings magazine and the only thing they had was the 2009 USNews Graduate School Rankings magazine and the 2008 USNews Complete College Guide book. The 2008 College Guide has a lot of the rankings and scores for each of the different assessments used in the College rankings but not all of them so it wasn’t really useful. I think they ran out of the 2008 College Rankings magazine because it’s already a year old and probably stopped carrying them because the new 2009 College Rankings are going to be out any week.</p>
<p>Data is from 2007 USNWR magazine. Need new #'s</p>
<p>State Ranking / USNWR Ranking / School Name / Alumni Giving Rate
8 38t UWisconsin /14%
9 38t UC San Diego / 10%
10 38t Illinois / 12%</p>
<p>11 42t Washington / 17%
12 42t UC Davis / 11%
13 44t UT Austin / 12%
14 44t UC SBarbara /15%
15 44t UC Irvine / 8%
16 48 Penn State / 21%
17 49 UF / 18%</p>
<p>Rankings SORTED by Alumni Giving Rate only:
16 48 Penn State / 21%
17 49 UF / 18%
11 42t Washington / 17%
14 44t UC SBarbara / 15%
8 38t UWisconsin /14%
13 44t UT Austin / 12%
10 38t Illinois / 12%
12 42t UC Davis / 11%
9 38t UC San Diego / 10%
15 44t UC Irvine / 8%</p>
<p>ALUMNI GIVING CONCLUSION:
UF IS #9 ONLY BEHIND PSU WITH A RATE OF 21%</p>
<p>FACT: UF ranked top 10 with a rate of 18% in this category.
This category is worth 5% of the total USNWR rankings.
UF needs to catch up to the 21% of PSU since they are ranked directly ahead of UF.</p>
<p>NEXT: Faculty with terminal degrees worth 3% of total USNWR 100% points.</p>
<p>Thanks for trying goufgators.
I believe even with old data it will become clear the subsections UF needs to improve.
I can update pretty easily once the new 2009 data arrives.</p>
<p>You’re welcome xNYer. Thanks for digging the numbers out from the net. The new numbers should be coming out soon so it will be interesting to see how things shake up.</p>
<p>Data is from 2006 Petersons Competiive Colleges book. Need new #'s</p>
<p>State Ranking / USNWR Ranking / School Name /% Faculty with terminal degrees
8 38t UWisconsin /100%
9 38t UC San Diego / 98%
10 38t Illinois / 86%</p>
<p>11 42t Washington / 94%
12 42t UC Davis / 98%
13 44t UT Austin / na%
14 44t UC SBarbara /na%
15 44t UC Irvine / 98%
16 48 Penn State / 77%
17 49 UF / 92%</p>
<p>Rankings SORTED by % faculty with terminal degrees only:
8 38t UWisconsin /100%
9 38t UC San Diego / 98%
12 42t UC Davis / 98%</p>
<p>15 44t UC Irvine / 98%
42t Washington / 94%
17 49 UF / 92%
10 38t Illinois / 86%
16 48 Penn State / 77%
14 44t UC SBarbara / na%
13 44t UT Austin / na%</p>
<p>% FACULTY WITH TERMINAL DEGREES CONCLUSION:
UF IS MAYBE #13 AHEAD OF FOR SURE ILLINOIS AND PENN STATE.</p>
<p>FACT: This info was not listed for UTA or UCSB. Given however that every other UC school had the same 98% rate I suspect it is the same for UCSB. The larger state schools dont seem to do well in this sub category so I will for now assume that UTA is lower than UF.
That would more than likely put UF at # 14 in this subcategory.
Note however that Illinois is a top 10 school while only having an 86% in this subcategory.
This subcategory is worth 3% of the total USNWR rankings.</p>
<p>NEXT: Top 10% students worth 6% of total USNWR 100% points.</p>
<p>Well, the fact remains that even Machen feels that UF will likely drop in the rankings. Today, the Miami Herald wrote:</p>
<p>UF is the only university in Florida ranked by U.S. News & World Report in the top 50 in the United States. This year, the school announced layoffs and program closures. Machen said UF could drop in the rankings if the state doesn’t act, threatening to leave Florida the only big state without a single university in the top 50.</p>
<p>‘‘We don’t have enough money to remain a high-quality system for very long,’’ Machen said.</p>
<p>Enough said. Reality is harsh, but it better starts sinking in. Let’s drop those delusions of grandeur at a time where they are not going to happen.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Machen is talking about the state university system. He made statements earlier saying that despite the cuts, UF can still be top 10 public. Enough said. The ranking drop speculation is based on continual budget cuts. Don’t take the article out of context.</p>