US News Rankings: Tulane jumps 10 spots. Did it get 10 spots better?

But let me ask what should be an obvious question:
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Did Tulane become a better university over the past 12 months?

Did its professors suddenly become better teachers? Did class sizes shrink? Did the curriculum improve? Did students suddenly get better internships, advising or career opportunities?

Probably not.

The ranking changed.

And here’s an important part of this annual exercise that often gets lost in the celebration (or hand-wringing):

U.S. News changes its methodology regularly.

This year is no exception.

One notable change is a new “Earnings by Major” measure, which looks at what graduates earn four years after college, adjusted for what they studied.

And you know what?

I actually like that.

Families spending $40,000, $60,000 or even $90,000+ per year on college SHOULD care about outcomes. What happens after graduation matters.

But here’s where perspective becomes important.

When U.S. News changes what it measures, or changes how much weight it gives a particular measure, a college’s ranking can change even when the college itself hasn’t materially changed.

The inputs change.

The formula changes.

And out comes a new number.

Which brings us back to Tulane.

Is it suddenly a better university because it moved from #69 to #59?

Of course not.

And had it dropped from #69 to #79, would it suddenly be a worse one?

Same answer.

Here’s the distinction I wish more families understood:

U.S. News is trying to rank colleges. You should be trying to match a student.

Those are two VERY different exercises.
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U.S. News needs a formula that can compare hundreds of institutions and put them in order. You need to identify perhaps 10–15 colleges where your student can get admitted, be happy, thrive academically, graduate successfully…and where your family can comfortably afford the bill.

So I don’t ignore the rankings.

In fact, there’s plenty of useful DATA underneath them.
– Graduation rates? Useful.
– Retention? Useful.
– Class sizes? Absolutely.
– Earnings by major? Interesting.
– Net cost and institutional generosity? REALLY useful.

But #59 versus #69? Not nearly as useful as people think.
Instead of asking, “What’s this college ranked?” I’d start with three questions:

Can my student get in?
Will my student thrive there?
Can we afford it?

Admissions probability + fit + affordability.

THAT is how you build a strategic college list.

And if you’re wondering where to start, that’s exactly why we’re here. To help you build your College Planning Roadmap personalized for YOUR student and family.

You may not have all the answers right now, but you need to have the right coversation.

Despite my rankings skepticism, I love it when the US News rankings drop each year –  it gives me a chance to remind people that your student doesn’t need the “#59 college.”

They need the right college.

Full stop.