College Rankings Mislead Students. Universities Should Abandon Them.
Preview:
U.S. News & World Report released its 2025 “Best Colleges" rankings. Every year, prospective college students and their families turn to this report for guidance on which schools might be the right fit for them. While there is evidence that fewer students are using rankings in their college admissions process, many families still heavily rely on them when making one of the most important decisions of their lives. A recent report that was financially supported by Vanderbilt University and conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago—a highly respected independent and nonpartisan nonprofit research organization—shows that the ranking’s methodologies have the potential to mislead and misinform the students who rely on it.
Originally published: September 24, 2024
Author: Daniel Diermeier
Position: Chancellor
Institution: Vanderbilt University
Published by: Forbes