<p>Department rankings are useless at the undergrad level... focus on getting into the best overall university or college you can... department rankings are really only relevant at the graduate school level.</p>
<p>Only exceptions:
(1) You have a passion for a highly specialized field.
(2) You have a passion for a very unusual peculiar field that may not be found
at every university or college.</p>
<p>However, for 99% of students who major in a standard field, then focus on the over-all quality of the school and don't obsess about departmental rankings.</p>