A number of public universities climbed the college rankings list after a revised methodology, despite most top schools remaining the same.
Recruitment & Enrollment

U.S. News offers new college rankings methodology


A number of public universities climbed the rankings after a revised methodology, despite most top schools remaining the same

Key points:

The 2024 Best Colleges rankings system from U.S. News & World Report evaluates 1,500 colleges and universities using up to 19 measures of academic quality–and this year, the methodology behind the rankings has been overhauled to reflect more modern priorities and factors that are important to today’s students.

This year’s rankings placed a greater emphasis on social mobility and outcomes for graduating college students, demonstrating the most significant methodological change in the rankings’ history.

More than 50 percent of an institution’s rank now comprises varying outcome measures related to success in enrolling and graduating students from all backgrounds with manageable debt and post-graduate success. In addition, five factors were removed: class size, faculty with terminal degrees, alumni giving, high school class standing and the proportion of graduates who borrow federal loans.

“For 40 years, students and their families have come to count on Best Colleges as a
vital resource as they navigate one of the most important decisions of their lives,”
says Eric Gertler, executive chairman and CEO of U.S. News. “The significant changes in this year’s methodology are part of the ongoing evolution to make sure our
rankings capture what is most important for students as they compare colleges and
select the school that is right for them.”

With these outcomes-focused methodology adjustments in the college rankings, the following schools saw
significant increases in their rank:

  • Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (NC) +106
  • University of Texas at San Antonio (TX) +92
  • California State University, East Bay +88
  • Florida Gulf Coast University +80
  • University of Texas Rio Grande Valley +72
  • Gwynedd Mercy University (PA) +71
  • University of Nevada, Reno +68
  • Northern Arizona University +68
  • The University of Texas at El Paso +68
  • California State University, Fresno +65
  • The University of Texas at Arlington +63
  • Northern Illinois University +62
  • Aurora University (IL) +62
  • Texas Woman’s University +62
  • San Francisco State University (CA) +56
  • Florida Atlantic University +54
  • Augusta University (GA) +52
  • University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh (WI) +52
  • Texas State University +51
  • University of Houston, Clear Lake +51

For the first time, Best Colleges includes undergraduate economics degree and
psychology degree rankings. This edition of the college rankings also includes specialized
rankings, such as the most innovative colleges and universities with the greatest
commitment to undergraduate teaching.

The 2024 Best Colleges methodology is calculated using 19 key measures of
academic quality for National Universities and 13 indicators for the National Liberal
Arts Colleges, Regional Universities and Regional Colleges. The formula uses data
universally reported by schools or obtainable from third-party sources. As always,
schools’ eligibility to be ranked is not contingent on participation in U.S. News’
surveys.

2024 Best National Universities – Top 3

  1. Princeton University (NJ)
  2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  3. Harvard University (MA) (tie)
  4. Stanford University (CA) (tie)

2024 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges – Top 3

  1. Williams College (MA)
  2. Amherst College (MA)
  3. United States Naval Academy (MD)

2024 Top Public Schools: National Universities – Top 3

  1. University of California, Berkeley (tie)
  2. University of California, Los Angeles (tie)
  3. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

2024 Top Public Schools: National Liberal Arts Colleges – Top 3

  1. United States Naval Academy (MD)
  2. United States Air Force Academy (CO)
  3. United States Military Academy at West Point (NY)

2024 Top Performers on Social Mobility: National Universities – Top 3

  1. California State University, Long Beach
  2. California State University, Fullerton (tie)
  3. California State University, Riverside (tie)
  4. California State University, San Bernardino (tie)
  5. University of California, Merced (tie)

2024 Top Performers on Social Mobility: National Liberal Arts Colleges – Top 3

  1. Lake Forest College (IL)
  2. Agnes Scott College (GA) (tie)
  3. Salem College (NC) (tie)
  4. Spelman College (GA)

This press release originally appeared online.

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Laura Ascione
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