The ranking methodology is questionable. If the rankings matter to you, then you are speaking for yourself…it’s your opinion. Lehigh is well known and regarded as one of the TOP engineering and business schools. A ranking of a magazine that is for profit is maybe golden for a few people, but any student that wants to get a career ready for them before they graduate couldn’t care less about the rankings. Lehigh’s diploma is pretty…very, very, very pretty and prestigious. They are the rock stars of the engineering and business world. I’ve never heard of any Lehigh graduate losing out of the most desirable jobs and internships because of a magazine’s ranking that is questionable. Therefore, realistically, it doesn’t matter to the people that matter.
Your memory is so incredibly impressive that you can remember which colleges were in their immediate rankings. Therefore, for the very, very, very, very, very, very few people that would have access to information almost ten years later, it must be important to you. I’m so sorry that this has been disappointing for you. I’m going to ask my prayer circle to include prayers that Lehigh’s rankings increase to a pretty level. No need for us to pray for Lehigh graduates getting fantastic life experiences because that’s already happening.
Love em or hate em schools nowadays live and die by the rankings. Prospective students anxious about their career prospects are the worst offenders at letting the rankings drive their decision making which leads to a downward spiral of lowering yields as the rankings go down.
Lehigh needs to take a long hard honest look at the problem and do what is necessary. The school needs to eliminate fraternities and sororities.
Well…it’s correct that rankings matter to many people (studies have been done that quantify aspects of it) and that Lehigh has dropped somewhat steadily over the years. Still, top 50 is pretty darn good. Face it, the Ivies and similar schools with lots more resources take quite a few of the higher spots.
From what I see, though, it looks like Lehigh is taking surprisingly aggressive steps to use a good sized chunk of its substantial endowment to fund infrastructure and program improvements, and better financial aid. It’s certainly good news and I wouldn’t be surprised if there is some indirect connection to the rankings. President Simon has hit the ground running.
As for eliminating fraternities and sororities? Not gonna happen. They can be a GREAT part of the college experience if properly managed. Are SOME of them collections of elitist, irresponsible jerks that promote bad behavior in general? Yes, some are. They were when I was there, too (just to clarify - I was not in one and rented a place on 4th Street next door to Smugglers Inn). Many, however, are not that way and provide very commendable service to university and town and life-long bonds for their brothers and sisters. The key is management…unsafe jerk behavior, hazing, alcohol abuse…YOU’RE OUT! I can only see them enhancing the Lehigh Experience if they do their job right. Maybe even pump up those rankings a bit.
The 40-50 ranked schools are mediocre at best. It is definitely not a “pretty darn good” position to be in.
Lehigh used to be a great school with poor name recognition. It is now a mediocre school with poor name recognition. I can just hear the high performing high school students crossing Lehigh off their lists. I wish I had done the same.
@AdInfinitum888 " When I applied 11 years ago, Lehigh was higher ranked than NYU, University of Rochester, Georgia Tech, and Boston College to name a few. These schools would have shared applicants with Lehigh. Today, we are tied with North Eastern, Penn State, and University of Florida. Our current position will affect the caliber of applicants who matriculate at Lehigh in the future.I can just hear the high performing high school students crossing Lehigh off their lists."
Honestly, I don’t know why Lehigh is not ranked somewhat higher. DD preferred it to Northeastern, Penn State, U of Rochester, and Boston University. It is a nice campus, and has good engineering and business programs, strong students, and good placement.
Does anyone know why it isn’t getting a bit higher ranking from US News?
Really, AdInfinitum…you’re saying that a good number of the top 50 US News ranked research universities in
America are mediocre at best? You won’t find many takers on that one. They may not be Harvard or Yale but they are not mediocre.
And you’re saying you wish you had crossed Lehigh off your list (I’m assuming you went there, graduated and are now well into your career or profession) because it dropped in rank and has now suddenly become mediocre after you went? Again, really?
Of course, we would like Lehigh to be high in all of these rankings and Kikkydee has provided a sampling of ones where it is. Even though they are flawed, it makes you feel good to know your alma mater is well thought of.
But why is Lehigh not higher ranked nowadays in US News? Good question. My own pet theory is that the higher ranked schools have large graduate and professional schools that influence the US News rankings. Check out the list…All the Ivies do, as well as Stanford, Duke, Virginia, Georgetown, NYU, Rochester, Boston U. and a bunch of others. I don’t see how that benefits the average undergrad that much, though.
And I still say a top 50 ranking is pretty darn good for a smaller school with a mostly technical and business focus like Lehigh. Like Much2learn said, it has a lot going for it: strong (but manageable) academics, beautiful campus, Greek Life, lots of parties (probably too many in all honesty), sports to cheer, lots of clubs. Even South Bethlehem, which was dilapidated when I went, has been reborn (mostly).