<p>Where can I find a ranking of schools encompassing all the separate listings as defined by US News and World Report. For example, in National Universities, Harvard is #1, in LAC's Williams is #1, in the Universities by Masters (divided into 4 regions) the breakdown is North (Villanova), South (U. of Richmond), West (Trinity) and Midwest (Creighton). And then there are the comprehensive colleges.</p>
<p>So which school is #1? When you hear a discussion of the top 50 or top 100 schools, how do you know which school is where on the list.</p>
<p>I continually hear how difficult it is to get into the top 50 schools. Which top 50? </p>
<p>USNWR ranks by class, i.e., National University, Master's level, LAC, and the like. Their web site is attached. (btw: Harvard is actually tied with Princeton for #1 national.) One aspect to review is acceptance rate. There are some that believe that an acceptance rate below 40% makes a college "difficult" to get into. Then, there are the Ivies, with acceptance rates in the teens.</p>
<p>Actually, it's not just USNEWS that categorizes schools. They actually use the Carnegie Foundation categories, as does just about every other educational information service. For example, the National Science Foundation uses the same categories in their data on baccalauriate orgins of Ph.D.s.</p>
<p>To answer your question more specfically. There is no such thing as #1, or #2, or #237.</p>
<p>Smiles, it seems as if you're seeking consolidated rankings of all the schools lumped togehter. Let me see if I can point you in a different direction altogether: ignore all the rnakings except on broad brushstrokes, say +/- 30. Differing rankings use criteria that have little or no impact on the quality of undergrad education your S/D will receive. Even the criteria that are applicable may have greater or lesser relevance to your case.</p>
<p>Is a #3 automatically better than a #17? Possibly not and defnitely not worth arguing about or making a decision on that basis. A #15 vs. #62? I might tend to go along with that.</p>
<p>The truth of it is, you have to develop your own criteria and then find how various schools match up. And it's very sastisfying to then develop your ranking instead of relying on the opinion of someone else.</p>
<p>And remember that different schools have different strengths. If you are looking for a very specific kind of program, ranking of the overall college doesn't mean a whole lot, especially if the program you want is particularly strong at a specific school.</p>
<p>To add another dimension, you also have to consider not just the different programs and specialties at different colleges but also whether they have special honors or residential programs. A residential program or honors program at a "middle ranked" university might be a far better experience than a "typical" program at a "high ranked" university.</p>
<p>You really can only use the general US News and similar rankings as a very rough guide to what would be best for your student. Read books, talk to people, visit colleges, visit their websites. It takes a lot of research.</p>
<p>I don't think you can really go by what the rankings say.. I mean, my college might be ranked worse than another school, but that doesn't mean I would get a better education at that other school.</p>
<p>I agree with everyone, you should not pay much attention to rankings. Here is a link to a somewhat old ranking where all colleges were ranked together.</p>