Times University Rankings 2012

When searching for that perfect college for you, Times Higher Education is one of the best sources for finding out more about the best schools from around the world. Known as the “Top 200 World Universities,” this list considers a number of factors when rating colleges and can provide students with some great information about each school. While this is just one of the tools you can use when comparing colleges, understanding how this list is created can help you understand some of the education choices available to you.

First and foremost, it is important to note that the Times college rankings will likely be changing significantly over the next several years. From 2004 to 2009, the list was compiled in conjunction with Quacquarelli Symonds, or QS. However, from 2010 on, the list will instead be compiled in conjunction with Thomson Reuters. So, their methodology might change and improve with this new partnership, which will give students an even more helpful ranking of schools.

Currently, the Times college list is compiled based on factors that fall into six different categories:

Peer Review Score
Faculty/Student Score
Citations/Faculty Score
Recruiter Review Score
International Faculty Score
International Students Score

The scores in each of these categories are based on factories like faculty publications and student-to-staff ratio. Each category is weighted based on how important Times believes these factors to be. This list is most highly criticized because of the weight given to peer review, which has, until 2009, accounted for 40% of the total score.

Peer review is important because it is a way for Times to understand a school’s reputation in the academic world. Each school is asked to participate in a survey, where they rank other schools with which they’re familiar. The problem with this, however, is that some schools strategically rank certain schools lower simply because they want to skew the ranking results. So, to put so much weight on peer review may not make the list extremely accurate for all schools, according to critics. It is speculated that this will be one of the pieces of methodology that will change in the coming years.

In addition to producing their list of the 200 best colleges in the world, Times also ranks colleges on smaller lists according to specific categories. There are lists for schools emphasizing engineering/IT, science and biomedicine, natural sciences, social sciences, and arts/humanities. These smaller lists are often more helpful to students than the larger international list that takes all colleges into consideration.

Times publishes its list every fall in their magazine, as well as online. While this is a great way to start your search for the perfect college, remember that the top school for you may not necessarily be atop this or any other college rankings. Make in-person visits to campuses, talk to professors and students, learn about scholarship and grant availability, and do research beyond subjective rankings to learn more about every school you’re considering.

The Top Online Universities in America

The Internet has revolutionized education so that now you can earn a degree entirely online from the comfort of your home. This is perfect for working professionals or anyone who wants to get ahead in a career without having to go to a physical campus everyday.

	The University of Phoenix is world-renowned for being the largest online university. Phoenix boasts dozens of different degrees at all levels that students can choose from. In the last four years alone, the university produced 80,000 graduates in high-demand fields as nursing, health care, teaching and IT. In addition to its online access, the school has campus locations within 10 miles of 87 million Americans. Learn More About University of Phoenix
	Liberty University has the reputation of being the largest online evangelical Christian university in the nation. Founded in 1971 by the late Reverend Jerry Falwell, Liberty's original name was Lynchburg Baptist College. Liberty obtained university status in 1984. In athletics, Liberty is a member of the Big South Conference for 18 sports, including football, hockey, and basketball. Academically, Liberty offers majors in over 70 subjects, including aeronautics, business, nursing, and more. Learn More About Liberty University
	Kaplan is organized into ten different academic schools, including Arts & Sciences, Business, Criminal Justice, Education, Health Sciences, IS & Technology, Legal Studies, Nursing, Continuing Education, and Concord Law School. All told, Kaplan offers more than 125 degrees and programs both off- and online, with more than 70 campus-based locations nationwide. Learn More About Kaplan University
	In addition to a host of options for students needing to transfer existing bachelor's and master's coursework into one of its more-than three dozen degree programs, Post University also welcomes military personnel to join its student body. Post offers detailed opportunities for veterans, those participating in active duty, as well as military dependent students. Learn More About Post University
	Ashford is a private liberal arts university based in Clinton, Iowa. But thanks to the World Wide Web, students from all over the world can access their online coursework. Originally founded in 1918 as Mount St. Clare College, Ashford has Catholic roots and today its NAIA-level athletic teams are known as The Saints, which compete in the Midwest Collegiate Conference in over a dozen sports. Learn More About Ashford University
	DeVry has dozens of campuses nationwide and delivers its coursework via the Web to thousands of online students studying for their degrees. At DeVry University, all degree programs are career-focused to ensure that proper training is given to students pursuing a specific job or career path. Learn More About DeVry University
	American InterContinental University, also known as AIU, is a private school accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. Founded in 1970 as the American College of Applied Arts, AIU today has seven campuses in the US and UK and runs its online program out of its Chicago offices. AIU offers degree programs in several subjects, including healthcare, business, education, criminal justice, and more. Learn More About American InterContinental University
	For students looking for flexible and affordable online education, Walden University offers both. As a leading accredited online university for more than 40 years, Walden has more than 42,500 students, from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. Nearly 85 percent of Walden students are satisfied with their university, and would be likely to recommend Walden to others. Learn More About Walden University
	In 1892, S. Irving Strayer founded Strayer's Business College. Today, this is known as Strayer University and has over 70 non-residential campuses with more than 50,000 students nationwide. Strayer is highly regarded as producing as many students with computer science degrees as any other school in the country. Learn More About Strayer University
	Grand Canyon University was founded in 1949 as Grand Canyon College, an Arizona Southern Baptist school. (It reached university status in 1989.) Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, GCU is typically featured among the Top 10 online colleges as ranked by The Online Education Database (OEDb). Learn More About Grand Canyon University
	Founded in 1839, Boston University is one of the oldest and most trusted universities that offers online education. At Boston Online, students can study liberal arts, business, science, criminal justice, health, music, nursing, and more to become well-rounded and productive individuals. Moreover, online programs offer a better sense of flexibility and convenience. Learn More About Boston University
	Capella University was founded in 1991 by Stephen Shank, the former CEO of Tonka, who felt that working adults were underserved by traditional brick-and-mortar universities. While their offices are located in downtown Minneapolis, being an online university, the majority of learning takes place outside of campus and instead via the Internet. Their motto: "Knowledge is solving problems no one else can." Learn More About Capella University