America, as a nation, loves to rank things — and college rankings are no exception. For generations past, as well as many to come, college rankings have been a hot topic of conversation for students and parents of students deciding on a college.

And why not? There is a certain security that comes with making a decision based on what someone else has deemed “the best.” This is particularly true when it comes to choices as grandiose as where to get a college education!

But how useful are college rankings, really? Take the time to dissect how college rankings work before trusting them blindly to make important decisions.

Difficult to Compare

It’s pretty near impossible to quantify and qualify every topic of interest that takes place on every campus in the nation, though those doing the ranking don’t seem to think so. Even with the top dogs in the business, you’re getting a short-sighted view of only 1,500 or so schools across the country.

Schools Provide the Info

There are no college ranking detectives that go to each school and inspect each area of interest such as on-campus dorms, student housing, student activities, clubs and sports teams. Each school provides its own data,  and it clearly has a vested interest in seeing its name at the top of each list. Get the idea? The “facts” may not be as squeaky clean as they appear.

Compare Lists

While there is no perfect list of college rankings out there, they are not a complete waste of time and money. The truth is, you can’t visit each school and inspect it either, so it helps to have a condensed version of the “facts” about each school. Your best bet is to get a few lists of college rankings and cross reference the information you find.

Choosing the right college for you isn’t easy — and we know that help is welcome! Just don’t believe everything you read. Taking a look at college rankings may be a good way to start your college search, but your search should never end there!