[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The motto of TheBestSchools.org is [hen-ui-text tag=”em” variant=”b4″]Finding the best school for you[/hen-ui-text]. Here is how we do it:[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The value of any ranking list of schools and/or degree programs depends on having a methodologically sound assessment of each school’s/program’s characteristics, especially insofar as these can be objectively measured. A college or university is a complex entity, with numerous factors to consider, and distilling these down to the place where meaningful comparisons can be made to form a defensible ranking list becomes part science and part art.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]To meet this challenge—and thereby provide you with the most useful and insightful educational rankings on the Internet — [hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]TheBestSchools.org formulates our rankings based on five informational categories[/hen-ui-text] (six, when considering online schools). The major metrics and qualities for which we rank are these (with expanded, detailed considerations and weights listed):[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]1. Academic excellence based on a school’s curriculum generally or within the selected discipline [weight = 25%][/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Weighs school against known leading schools in that discipline[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Weighs number of core curricula listed as advanced courses within that discipline and compares against introductory courses[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Weighs school’s curriculum against known knowledge needs of major employers in that discipline[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Considers number and types of specializations offered within that discipline[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Considers faculty expertise in that discipline[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Considers range of electives within that discipline[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Considers quality of online environment offered to students (if applicable), particularly within that discipline[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [/hen-ui-list] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]2. Strength of faculty scholarship [weight = 25%][/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Considers education background of the faculty[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Considers years of faculty experience both inside and outside of academia.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Considers faculty membership and leadership within relevant, prominent associations[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Considers academic papers published by faculty in relevant, prominent periodicals[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Considers awards and recognitions given to faculty members from prominent organizations and from other sources[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [/hen-ui-list] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]3. Reputation [weight = 20%][/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Considers a school’s reputation among academic peers and employers regarding the following:

Faculty[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Curriculum[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]“Freshness” of academic knowledge[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Adaptability to changes in employment sectors[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Suitability of graduates for the workplace[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [/hen-ui-list]

[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]4. Financial aid [weight = 10%][/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Mandatory: Requires full accreditation from an agency endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and listed on the federal register to accept student federal financial aid[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Considers range of school-sponsored [hen-ui-link href=”/resources/college-finances/paying-for-college/” target=”/"_blank"”]financial aid such as scholarships[/hen-ui-link] and grants[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [/hen-ui-list] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]5. Range of degree programs [weight = 20%][/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Considers range of degree levels: associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral and professional[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Considers range of degree subjects offered, such as art & design, computers & technology, education & teaching, criminal justice, and business[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [/hen-ui-list] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]6. Strength of online instruction methodology (if applicable) [weight = 25%; subtract 5% from each of the above for online schools/programs][/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Considers the following of the online classes:

Types of online technology used to deliver content[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Pedagogy style: asynchronous, synchronous, or both (depending on the degree)[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Extent and quality of the online, community learning environment, including options for communication, interactivity, and collaboration between students and also between students and instructors[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Variety, breadth, and depth of coursework, and its support, including project options and online tutoring[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [/hen-ui-list]

Considers the following of instructors: [hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Extent of training for teaching within an online learning environment[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Amount of timely, consistent feedback to students[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Extent of collaboration with prospective employers to ensure suitability of instructional materials for achieving desired skills[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Ratio to number of students in a class[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [/hen-ui-list]

Number and quality of internships in a student’s geographical area for applicable degrees

[hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Because students tend to review a variety of information when choosing a school, the weight a student gives any one criterion will vary. For instance, it’s not enough to offer a carefully constructed ranking of great schools if many are too expensive or too difficult to get into.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]To better serve the needs of prospective students, we are therefore increasingly offering [hen-ui-text tag=”strong” weight=”bold”]filters[/hen-ui-text] that help you better use our rankings to find the schools that match your specific needs. These supplement our ranking criteria and include:[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Accreditation[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Public or private status[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Acceptance rate[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Retention rate[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Graduation rate[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]ACT/SAT requirements[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Cost in-state / out of state[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Undergrad, grad, or both offered[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Region[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]State[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]City[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [/hen-ui-list] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Get the best rankings here AND get them to suit your personal needs. That’s TheBestSchools.org advantage![/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]If you have any questions about our ranking methodology, [hen-ui-link href=”/contact/”]please contact us[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Citations: For a broader account of our ranking methodology, especially as it relates to TheBestSchools.org’s underlying educational philosophy and, in other ranking articles, looks beyond academic excellence (as here) to such factors as return on investment or incidental benefit, see our article “[hen-ui-link href=”/rankings/ranking-methodology/”]Ranking Methodology: How We Rank Schools at TBS[/hen-ui-link]./” Reputation of schools and degree programs can at least in part be gauged through the school or department’s [hen-ui-link href=”https://academicinfluence.com/”]publishing activity, citations, and desirability[/hen-ui-link]. At TheBestSchools.org, we keep track of such social and peer validation: “[hen-ui-link href=”/rankings/ranking-methodology/”]Making Sense of College Rankings[/hen-ui-link]./” For nuts-and-bolts information about colleges and universities, we look to the [hen-ui-link href=”https://nces.ed.gov/”]National Center for Education Statistics[/hen-ui-link] and especially its [hen-ui-link href=”https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/”]College Navigator[/hen-ui-link]. Insofar as salary and inflation data are relevant to a ranking, we look to the [hen-ui-link href=”https://www.bls.gov”]Bureau of Labor Statistics[/hen-ui-link]. Finally, nothing beats contacting schools and degree programs directly, which our researchers often do, with the result that all the entries in this article should be considered as belonging to this citation![/hen-ui-text]