<p>Scroll down a bit, and you'll see the "Top 25" thread....it just makes me mad when people assume that private schools are automatically "better" simply because of their "private" status.</p>
<p>It's all based upon what they have seen in the USNews list, which includes factors for total endowment and alumni giving rates. Since public universities have less need for both of these factors (due to the public funding they receive) they naturally score lower on these two parameters, which drags down the ranking for the publics. </p>
<p>Here is a ranking that does not include alumni giving and endowment. MIT is ranked #1, UCLA is #2, and Harvard is way down at #16. More emphasis is given to student achievement rather than endowment size. The USNews rankings are shown as well.</p>
<p>"The</a> Washington Monthly College Guide " by The Editors</p>