A Skewed Survey?

U.S. News made significant changes to the ranking methodology for the 2019 edition of Best Colleges, but the result remains the same: Princeton is the No. 1 university in the country for the eighth year in a row (On the Campus, Oct. 3).

As an alum, I was tempted to break into a victory dance once again, with a large No. 1 foam finger waving overhead. But there are serious questions whether or not these surveys are a reliable measure of the comparative value of an institution of higher learning or are a useful guide for applicants and their parents. 

The survey’s methodology includes these weighted factors: retention of freshmen and students overall, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, graduation rate, and alumni-giving rate. 

But the most significant weight — 22.5 percent — goes to the opinions of those in a position to judge a school’s undergraduate academic excellence: presidents, provosts, and deans of admission. Critics argue this factor is too subjective and severely skews the survey results. As one observer commented, a college official who is surveyed may rely on “the only source of detailed information at his disposal that assesses the relative merits of dozens of institutions he knows nothing about: U.S. News. Thus, the U.S. News ratings become a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

Of course, I’m proud of Princeton’s No. 1 ranking. I’m sure all Princetonians join in applauding our alma mater. But, frankly, I’m inclined to keep my No. 1 foam finger in retirement until Princeton breaks into the list of the top 10 “party” schools in the nation. I suspect that might be a long, long wait.