US Senators Urge Changing Methods for Ranking Colleges

US senators advised an American media company to change how it ranks colleges. US News & World Report (US News), a company that publishes news, opinions, and rankings, recently issued the list of 2019 Best Colleges. Based on the list, elite universities such as Princeton and Harvard are among the best-ranked schools. In a letter released in December, senators noted that US News’ list acknowledged colleges that promote social mobility, or the provision of opportunities for students from low-income backgrounds to improve their lives. In fact, a new criterion in the list is having a high number of graduates under Pell Grants, a government financial aid for students. However, the senators observed that US News’ new criterion only accounts for 2.5% of a university’s total score. For this reason, the lawmakers think that US News was unable to adequately change US News’ current assessment, which favors elite universities. The senators therefore urged US News to improve its methods for determining next year’s college rankings. One suggestion is to align the media company’s rankings with the government’s goal to enhance college access, support learners, and help students achieve economic stability. In response to the senators’ letter, US News’ editor and chief content officer Brian Kelly clarified that the media company adjusts its metrics based on the availability of new data. He also asserted that some elite institutions have been consistently performing well. Nevertheless, Kelly expressed willingness to have discussions with the senators. He said that such discussions could help correct misconceptions about the higher education industry and review standards in measuring the quality of education.