Comments on: US News methodology

Question: US News methodology

JamesJD — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:35:54 -0800

Two Questions about US News Best National Universities Rankings.

1. Anyone have a link (preferably to the usnews.com website) explaining how the peer assessment score is measured for the Best National Universities 2008 ranking?

2. Also, don't most private schools not disclose whether their students are in the top 10%? How does US News deal with this?

By: JamesJD

JamesJD — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:37:22 -0800

Actually, I just found the answer to #1, anyone know about #2?

By: JamesJD

JamesJD — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:37:40 -0800

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/about/weight_brief_2.php
The answer to #1.

By: triggerfinger

triggerfinger — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 14:14:12 -0800

This may not be a direct answer to your question, but the NY Times recently wrote an interesting article casting some light on how the US News rankings are compiled.

By: ethnomethodologist

ethnomethodologist — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 14:39:35 -0800

Peer assessment is done the same way in all categories, it's not any different in national univs. And it is A LOT of work for all schools involved, which is one of many reasons why my laudable alma mater, Reed College, doesn't participate, and hasn't in years.

By: IndigoJones

IndigoJones — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 17:05:45 -0800

If Reed is anything like (I was told) it was thirty years ago, most students from Princeton wouldn't last one semester.

Here's hoping it's still like it was thirty years ago.

By: brownpau

brownpau — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 18:29:20 -0800

Here's the guy you want to ask about that.

By: achmorrison

achmorrison — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 06:59:47 -0800

I think it's possible that schools do disclose average ACT/SAT scores. In that case, it might be possible for USNWR to extrapolate student rankings.