Updated: Jun 05, 2023
Account Center will be unavailable Friday October 4th, 5 p.m. (ET) to the morning of Sunday October 6th.
One-time payments and automatic payment enrollment will not be available, and phone agents will not be able to assist you during this time. Pre-scheduled one-time payments and automatic payments will process as usual.
Article highlights
Various publications rank colleges on an annual basis. Some incoming first-year students consider college ranking lists to be an important factor when considering narrowing down their college options. Recently, however, the value of college rankings has been called into question, as a handful of big-name institutions have pulled out of the rankings process altogether, claiming the methodology used doesn’t truly reflect the academic experience.
So how important are college rankings? And to what extent should they rule your decision-making when it comes time to choosing a school? To answer that, we break down how you should (and shouldn’t) use college rankings to guide your choices.
When first putting together your college list, school rankings can help you find institutions that you might not have heard of previously. These lists can help give you an early sense of which schools have the best reputation in your intended major, and can give you a decent snapshot on things like class size and culture. But remember it’s only that: a snapshot.
A school may have a high ranking overall, but that doesn’t mean that they have a robust department in the area you’re interested in majoring in. Dig down into what resources might be available in the areas you’re most interested in studying. Look for things like internship partnerships, professional networks, and leadership opportunities.
Rankings won’t tell you things like what percentage of classes are taught by teaching assistants, or whether there are clubs that align with your particular interests. Explore some of the social media pages for the colleges you’re interested in, as well as any campus clubs or groups. Don’t be afraid to reach out to current students and alumni for an inside look into life on campus. If you can, take a college tour so you can get a flavor for the campus culture in person.
Cost isn’t always factored into college rankings. As college is a big investment, it’s important to think about whether the degree you get will help pay off any debt you might accrue. My College Plan lets you compare different schools, majors, and careers, and shows you how they can affect your potential salary and student loan debt.
A school can top the rankings list and still be a bad fit for you personally. Think hard about what will make you happy at a college you attend, and use those factors to make your decision. Some things to guide you:
College ranking lists, as well as your own criteria, can help you determine what schools you want to visit and eventually apply to.
Visiting college campuses can provide insights that you may not get from a website or brochure.