Forbes ranking of colleges and universities

lawgal · #1 08-15-2008, 04:30 PM

Has anyone seen these rankings yet? They need to get real! New College of FLorida is ranked 29th. University of Florida is ranked 167th. (Just an example). I would have expected better of Forbes. At least having them look at placement statistics or something.

lawgal · #2 08-15-2008, 04:31 PM

Here is the link. http://www.forbes.com/2008/08/13/bes...best_land.html

irishpipes · #3 08-15-2008, 05:42 PM

It's obviously wrong because it doesn't have Carnegie Mellon.

nittanyalum · #4 08-15-2008, 05:45 PM

Entirely too many schools charging $50,000 PER YEAR. Holy crap.

LightBulb · #5 08-15-2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

They based 25% of the rankings on 7 million student evaluations of courses and instructors, as recorded on the Web site RateMyProfessors.com.

Hmm.

LightBulb · #6 08-15-2008, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Another 25% depends on how many of the school's alumni, adjusted for enrollment, are listed among the notable people in Who's Who in America.

The other half of the ranking is based equally on three factors: the average amount of student debt at graduation held by those who borrowed;

While low tuition (or a high prevalence of scholarships, as is available at my undergrad) is a valuable asset, I don't agree that it necessarily makes one school "better" than another. I would define that more in terms of academics, research opportunities, job placement, student life, etc. But then, "better" is abstract.

Quote:

the percentage of students graduating in four years; and the number of students or faculty, adjusted for enrollment, who have won nationally competitive awards like Rhodes Scholarships or Nobel Prizes.

Quote:

Small liberal arts schools shine in our rankings, probably due to both the quality of their faculty and the personal attention they can provide.

While there may be truth to that, the reasoning is speculative.

LightBulb · #7 08-15-2008, 07:09 PM

Sorry to be a downer, this article just jumped out at me a bit. What else have y'all noticed about it, good or bad?

alum · #8 08-15-2008, 07:56 PM

So will private unis that can't afford to give as much outright grant $ (thus rendering student debt necessary in order to attend) just not admit these poor students in order to up their rankings?

In terms of the actual COA of more expensive private schools vs publics, it's still about the same 3:1:

rivate

ublic ratio that it was when I was in college decades ago.

KSigkid · #9 08-18-2008, 09:09 PM

Like any of the other rankings - some good choices, some bad ones. Overall, though, I think the US News are more accurate.

PeppyGPhiB · #10 08-22-2008, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishpipes

It's obviously wrong because it doesn't have Carnegie Mellon.

Oh, it has Carnegie Mellon...at #266, just a few below UC San Diego (#256), App. State (#250) and Southern Miss (#262). But hey, at least it's better than that crummy school in University Park, Penn State (#272)!

This ranking is an embarrassment to Forbes. Seriously. I can't believe the editor in chief let them print it.

ETA: OMGLOL I just saw that USC (Calif.) is ranked #300 and Wisconsin is #335. My OWN alma mater is #363.

SHEETCAKE · #11 08-22-2008, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishpipes

It's obviously wrong because it doesn't have Carnegie Mellon.

Honoring the Olympics by giving you this cake. I think it means job well done. If I went to CMU maybe I'd have known that.

irishpipes · #12 08-22-2008, 11:08 PM

Aw, Sheetcake, I feel so honored to be the recipient of your cyber deliciousness! A non-top-tier college graduate like myself surely doesn't deserve it!

The only thing better than this would be a shout out from the Pope.

Munchkin03 · #13 08-23-2008, 11:42 AM

I don't see what the big deal is here.

nittanyalum · #14 08-23-2008, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Oh, it has Carnegie Mellon...at #266, just a few below UC San Diego (#256), App. State (#250) and Southern Miss (#262). But hey, at least it's better than that crummy school in University Park, Penn State (#272)!

HEY! I JUST SAW THIS!

(but seriously, UCSD, Southern Miss and Appy St. above PSU? Whatevs!)

SOPi_Jawbreaker · #15 08-23-2008, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

But hey, at least it's better than that crummy school in University Park, Penn State (#272)!

Them's fightin' words. You better be ready to meet me and nittanyalum in the parking lot after school.

Also, I wish I could read what sheetcake's cake says...and I wish I some delicious Chinatown cake.