The methodology isn't consistent year to year. They regularly adjust their weighting of each category to better reflect their interpretation of what makes the best college. Recently they have begun to emphasize outcomes more compared to the incoming stats of a class. I read an article about this yesterday but can't seem to find it now.
Below is the latest version (National Universities only which is the category Ohio University is in). You could debate endlessly what each category should be worth. Personally I think the entire first category is BS and should be excluded. It is not fact based and therefore invalid in my mind. Our reputation as a party school likely has a huge impact on our rating by this category alone. I find that ridiculous.
Undergrad Academic Reputation - 22.5% That percentage is made up of 2 subcategories.
#1 - Peer Assessment survey - 66.7%
#2 - High School Counselor ratings - 33.3%
Student Selectivity for Entering Class - 12.5%. Made up of 3 subcategories.
#1 - Acceptance Rate - 10%
#2 - High School Standing in Top 10% - 25%
#3 - Critical Reading & Math of SAT & Composite ACT - 65% (SAT not required for in state still? I was one of very few who took the SAT in my class. Universities that draw primarily from in state would be unfairly docked points here).
Faculty Resources - 20%. Made up of 6 Subcategories
#1 - Faculty Compensation - 35%
#2 - % Faculty with Terminal Degree in field - 15%
#3 - % Faculty as Full Time - 5%
#4 - Student-Faculty Ratio - 5%
#5 - Class Size 1-19 - 30%
#6 - Class Size 50+ - 10%
Graduation & Retention Rates - 22.5%. 2 Subcategories
#1 - Average Grad Rate - 80%
#2 - Average Freshmen Retention Rate - 20%
Financial Resources per student - 10%
Average Alumni Giving Rate - 5%
Graduation Rate Performance - 7.5%
Definitions & full table at the link below....
http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/20...
Last Edited: 12/31/2014 5:23:28 PM by OUs LONG Driver