UniRanks World University Ranking compiles the results of THE World University Ranking, QS World University Ranking, US News Best Global University, Shanghai ARWU Ranking, and Reuters World Top 100 Innovative Universities.
I dont agree. It can help minimize the bias of each one individually. Is it a coincidence that both this and another aggregate ranking for US colleges put out by WashPo yield for the most part very reasonable results, or at least more reasonable than any individual ranking out there?
Similar approach (using U.S. News (National University Rankings), Forbes’ America’s Top Colleges, Times Higher Education World University Rankings (Reuters), QS World University Rankings, and The Academic Ranking of World Universities (Shanghai Rankings)):
@UWfromCA this aggregate ranking you mention blends rankings that measure both undergrad strength/quality and overall research & grad quality. this is not necessarily a bad thing, but it measures a blend of both undergrad & grad/research quality. UniRanks ranking focuses on research strength and the WashPo raking focuses on undergrad strength.
Also at the WashPo ranking the top 3 are Stanford/Harvard/MIT so yeah there is not much contention about the top 3.
This compiles research which places a heavy priority on research. research output and so-called research impact, which is not really relevant to all undergrads who are looking for a quality experience in the classroom. It would be perhaps relevant, with departmental differentiation, for grad students.
@I agree but I would say it is stil relevant to many undergrads because departmental and research strength does influence quite a bit the opportunities of the undergrad programs in many universities. but of course it is more relevant to grad students.
@Penn95 , Washington Post also includes “Rankings from Times Higher Education world university analysts, only of schools within the United States, which focus on research prowess.” I included the corresponding Washington Post rankings in post #4 above.
I agree with snarlatron. I don’t think these rankings (either individually or aggregated) are necessarily very appropriate for choosing an American college. Maybe they are if you want a university with very heavy research emphasis. If you want a broad liberal arts education with a lot of faculty engagement, not so much.
But even if you do want a research-heavy environment, aggregating 5 similar rankings probably isn’t better than breaking down one good ranking to focus on your general or specific area of interest. At least a couple of them (THE and USNWR) do provide graduate-level subject rankings. UChicago for example probably would go up for Social Science but down (and out) for engineering.
Here is another interesting one that combines US News undergraduate business and engineering rankings and graduate department rankings (biology, chemistry, computer science, earth sciences, economics, education, English, history, math, physics, political science, psychology, and sociology). The author does a good job of explaining the limitations of this approach, I think.
@Mastadon I never said that what you just said. All these rankings measure grad/research, that is a given. Aggregating prob minimizes the bias of each one with respect to what they value most when measuring research/grad strength (innovation, volume, impact of research papers etc). Never said this was an undergrad focused ranking.
