What Do Rankings Measure? The U.S. News Rankings and Student Experience at Liberal Arts Colleges

• In Event: Rethinking the Relationship Between Institutional Strategy and Quality

Abstract

Adopting a hierarchical linear modeling technique, this study explores the relationship between the indicators used in the Best Colleges Rankings published by the U.S. News and World Report and perceived experience of students at liberal arts colleges. This study expands our understanding of validity of indicators and weight used in rankings, and contributes to the consideration of a better usage of college rankings. The results indicate that the current ranking system might not reflect what students experience at their institutions.

Authors

• Jeongeun Kim, University of Michigan

• Woo-jeong Shim, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor