Do College Rankings Matter

College rankings are widely considered an important means for choosing a school. Colleges are ranked by various publications according to their merit, their employment ratio and a number of other factors. For most students, a great deal of weight is placed on attending the highest ranked school possible, and sometimes students borrow a lot of money in order to attend these highly ranked schools. However, in some situations, this may not always be the best idea, and so it is important to consider how much do college rankings matter.

There are too many variables that distinguish colleges from one another to make them comparable. So, finding the best college is less about finding the highest ranked, and more about finding the best fit. Sure, college rankings do a good job of identifying good programs, but they can’t tell you which college is best suited to your goals, your personality, or your learning style. That requires a little bit of research, both of yourself and the colleges you’re pursuing.

There is no reason to think the U.S. News rankings are rife with misinformation, and the publication makes efforts to police the data, adjust its metrics and close loopholes.

“The reliance on this is out of hand,” said Jon Boeckenstedt, the associate vice president who oversees admissions at DePaul University in Chicago. “It’s a nebulous thing, comparing the value of a college education at one institution to another, so parents and students and counselors focus on things that give them the illusion of precision.”

Students: Tell us how you feel about college rankings. Are they a significant factor when you are considering a college? Would a high average SAT score, for instance, deter you from applying to a college? Do you think numerical data matter more than other factors like a school’s overall reputation? Why are rankings so powerful? Should the system be changed?