<p>It seems like almost everything about a college can be ranked and compared to others. Different programs in arts, sciences, and other fields are ranked higher at different colleges. Some colleges are ranked higher in their undergrad programs and others their graduate programs. But what exactly does this ranking mean? What exactly makes one school's program better than another? I'm just a little confused about this; it seems like when looking at schools and deciding which ones I should be interested in that I'm getting inundated with rankings, but I don't understand what about the college's program or degree (or anything else you can rank) makes it better.</p>
<p>What makes a department better? The academic/professional quality of the graduates after they graduate and enter the work place or another academic program such as graduate school.</p>
<p>Oh ok then, that's simple enough. So being in a highly ranked program basically means you have a better chance of getting a quality job/career out of college? Or is it more like the highly ranked programs only take the best students and therefore these students have better success than others?</p>
<p>Some of what you say is opine. I am sure one can fine examples of students from low ranked institutions who achieve high levels and perform well. As to the highly ranked institutions who take the best students.....yes.</p>