UMICH, UIUC, or UW Madison

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Michigan
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<p>

NYU actually belongs in Tier 1; I just overlooked it and forgot to include it in that list I provided. Past rankings of Economics programs suggest that CMU should be ranked a tad bit higher but it’s very possible that Wash U and Brown have improved vis-a-vis Carnegie Mellon in the past 15 years and you need to acknowledge the possibility of this.</p>

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Well, I don’t know what to say; the most prominent research-based ranking system of graduate programs in the country disagrees with you. Although you seem very well informed; I think I will trust the judgment of the experts in this case.</p>

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One good thing about the NRC rating system is that it provides both a Survey based regression ordering and a Reputation based regression ordering. The former deals with what leading economics faculty members consider to be the most important factors that determine a program’s strength and the latter deals with what features in renowned departments (like Harvard or Chicago) that economist admire and see duplicated in other programs.</p>

<p>So essentially, the S-Ranking deals with what economists deem to be important when assessing economics programs while the R-Ranking is concerned with what these economists actually seem to value subconsciously when rating economics departments and comparing them to the ones they respect the most.</p>

<p>For example, when asked what factor is most important in selecting a food item at a grocery store, someone might answer “nutritional value” and this is what the S-Ranking measures; however, when the judge assesses what this individual actually bought from the grocery store after considering a variety of options, he finds that the person actually values “low prices” more which is what the R-Ranking tries to capture. It is the difference between what something “ought to be” and what something “actually is” when tested in a real-life scenario.</p>

<p>When looking at both the S-Ranking and the R-Ranking together, you basically have the most powerful tool for assessing academic departments.</p>

<p>Maryland’s S-Ranking: (18-30), R-Ranking: (5-18)
Wash U’s S-Ranking: (17-27), R-Ranking: (17-26)
Brown’s S-Ranking: (12-20), R-Ranking: (14-24)</p>

<p>Even the S-Ranking puts Wash U and Brown solidly in Tier 3 while the S-Ranking puts Maryland in Tier 3 instead of Tier 2 like the R-Ranking so there may be some variation there.</p>

<p>You just have to admit it; Brown, Wash U and Maryland have elite economics departments now and the latter’s might be super-elite like Wisconsin’s.</p>

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<p>goldenboy, I have no issues with those rankings, although I find the concept of having NYU ranked up there with the likes of Stanford and Princeton or Maryland with Yale and Northwestern provocative. Then again, the difference at the top is minute and not worth debating. I fully admit that NYU is awesome in Economics, but more at the level of Michigan and Minnesota. Maryland is great in Econ, but is it really at the same level as ale or Northwestern? I also fully acknowledge that Brown and WUSTL are elite in Econ, only not THAT awesome. </p>

<p>I still prefer the USNWR rankings as I find them to be less obscure or inconsistent. Still, the NRC rates Michigan among the top 10 universities overall, so they are good in my book!</p>

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<p>I think an interesting thing is that UVa never seems to show much in any dept rankings and not just in Econ. I am sure they hire good people. Do they get lazy just looking around the historic campus and drinking bourbon?
But they might be the only top school with an alumni association group in the state pen. And not just from the recently concluded case.</p>

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<p>I agree barrons, UVA is prestigious more because of its history and association with “high society” rather than pure academic quality just like Georgetown and Willian & Mary. UVA is the most selective public school in the country though and it has the highest endowment per capita. It’s business school is also a major feeder to Wall Street.</p>

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<p>UVa is one of the most selective public universities in the country, but it is not necessarily the most selective public university in the country. Cal, Georgia Tech, Michigan, UNC and William and Mary are all equally as selective. They all have virtually identical admissions standards (unweighed HS GPA, class rank, SAT/ACT ranges etc…).</p>

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<p>You guys are all amazing. All of you clearly exceed my expectations. From what I’ve heard from my college adviser at my school Michigan usually offers a deal of aid which will make its cost at least comparable to UIUC. From what I’ve obtained from these posts, Michigan normally retains more of a national significance than UIUC and WISC. That being said, both of these aforementioned schools have great strengths and should not be glossed over. Now the decision would get very interesting if I get admission into Northwestern know wouldn’t it ;)</p>