<p>The 2008 edition of the Best Graduate Schools published by USNWR ranks the University of Southern California at #8 in engineering, ahead of Cornell and Michigan. However, going through each of the 12 specialties evaluated, USC is not in the top 10 on any of them except for petroleum engineering (at #9).</p>
<p>Now looking at the NRC rankings, USC is at:</p>
<h1>57 chemical engineering</h1>
<h1>11 electrical engineering</h1>
<h1>22 industrial engineering</h1>
<h1>45 material science</h1>
<h1>57 mechanical engineering</h1>
<p>not listed for: aerospace, biomedical, and civil engineering</p>
<p>The USNWR uses other factors in their engineering methodology in addition to reputation among peers. For the specialty rankings, however, they are "based solely on assessments by department heads in each specialty area," according to their website. My question is: How could USC be ranked so high when the reputation is not even there? This goes to show how flawed their methodology can be. </p>
<p>By the way, NRC uses various factors to evaluate programs - factors that are known in the academic world to be more relevant, and they do generally agree with peer assessment.</p>
<p>I've noticed this too... </p>
<p>All I can say is:
Two separate questions, two different answers.</p>
<p>All I can say is that it seems Michigan has been getting the short end lately out of these ridiculous rating guides.</p>
<p>who cares
who cares
who cares
who cares</p>
<p>people are way way to obsessed with these dumb rankings. they should go to the places with the programs they like. rankings are meaningless if the program you want isnt there</p>
<p>this site is beginning to bug me with all the obsession about rankings.
jeeeeez</p>
<p>That's why particularly for graduate school it's important to not rely solely on rankings like this, but to also discuss with advisers and professors the best choices AND to pick schools based on fit in addition to reputation.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Two separate questions, two different answers.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Not entirely. USC has used its massive endowment to inflate its rankings. Keeping in mind that "research activity" accounts for 25% of the specialty school's total score, take a look at USC's output in that category. </p>
<p>Engineering</a> Methodology - US News and World Report</p>
<p>If I remember correctly, in years past, Viterbi's expenditures there were significantly larger than any other school in the top 10.</p>