<p>Here's something I pulled up from Wikipedia:</p>
<p>"Not only are UTD's entering freshmen average SAT scores among the highest of any Texas public university, but are also among the** top 20 for public universities in the nation**. It ranks third among public universities in Texas in the percentage of National Merit Scholars in its freshman class. UTD is also known for its graduate programs in international management, economics and political economy, which offer both masters and doctoral programs.According to U.S. News and World Report, the Full-Time MBA program at UTD is among the top 50 in the nation. The MBA program ranks 3rd for public school programs in the state of Texas."</p>
<p>Yet, UTD is ranked a Tier 3 on US World News Report (for undergrad, not MBA) while SMU (another school I'm interested in) is ranked a Tier 1. </p>
<p>How in the world is US World News Report deciding the ranking? I know UTD has no football team so that's one way SMU is beating UTD and SMU has a prettier campus but what else causes this huge Tier ranking difference?</p>
<p>25% Peer Assessment
20% Retention
10% Finances
8% Class Sizes
7.5% SAT scores
7% Faculty Pay
6% Top 10%
5% Alumni Giving
5% Graduation Rate
3% Highest Degree for Faculty
1.5% Acceptance Rate
1% Student-Faculty Ratio
1% Full-Time Faculty</p>
<p>UTD’s test scores are decidedly less relevant when you consider
– That source doesn’t say how it stacks up against private universities.
– Test scores account for only 7.5% of the ranking.</p>
<p>Two large detriments to UTD’s ranking are its comparatively low graduation and retention rates. For 2009, UTD claimed a 6-year graduation rate of 63% and a freshman retention rate of 84% while SMU’s graduation rate was 77% and its retention rate was 88%. Also, I don’t have access to PA scores but SMU may very well be scored higher in that category, if not only for the “inertia” associated with the PA ranking (i.e., it is very slow to change and will likely go up once UTD becomes Tier 1 in the US News rankings). </p>
<p>In terms of SAT/ACT scores and number of freshmen in top 10% of their class, UTD compares favorably to SMU. UTD’s graduation and retention rates have been trending up over the past few years (UTD had a 55% graduation rate and 81% retention rate for 2007), so as they continue to improve UTD may very well enter into the Tier 1 rankings.</p>
<p>So, generally, you have better prepared, more competent, top of their class type students going to UTD as opposed to SMU…but less people from UTD are graduating?</p>
<p>O.o <em>confusion</em></p>
<p>Why is that? I know lots of people go to UTD hoping to transfer to UT Austin or A&M so that explains the retention rate but why are so many of UTD’s kids not graduating? Does that include transfer students? Does anyone have any idea? It’s one thing to transfer or leave the college but to not graduate?</p>
<p>UTD did not have much of a campus, or traditions, sports or dining halls - basically not much residence life or school spirit in part because kids live in apartments, not dorms. They have made inroads in this department by building more res facilities. Also, they are a relatively new college - so lack of history leads to lower peer appreciation.</p>
<p>Not to worry UTD activists, it has come to my understanding that UTD will be Tier 1 verrry soon. Have you seen the UTD website? It shows the milestones achieved by intelligence and patience (which is the type of mindset UTD looks for in its applicants being that the acceptance rate is around 53%, which will lower significantly after pronounced tier1)… I hope its tier 1 by the start of this fall.</p>