447: How College Rankings Hurt Students

College rankings have been in the news again. Columbia University fell from #2 to #18 after lying about student data. Rankings are flawed and rarely reflect families’ college priorities, but they captivate audiences and continue to drive admission decisions at colleges and universities. What’s more important is the effect rankings have on students. Megan and Gretchen discuss how rankings hurt students. They consider a variety of factors: * Rankings mislead families by presenting as fact a calculation of “quality”. This creates impression that there is a “best” (and worst).* Rankings lead colleges to act in ways that protect their rank at the expense of students.* Rankings have encouraged some colleges to act in unethical ways. * Ranking often influence students’ and parents’ college lists. The result is often poorly though out choices that are on the list “because they are good schools.”* Rankings promote “lottery” thinking. * Rankings perpetuate elitism at the cost of education.* Rankings fail to adequately account for the key factors and actual value of the education each school provides.