Undergraduate University Rankings 2012

When researching colleges, rankings can come in quite handy. Some rankings list colleges by location. Other lists rank colleges according specialty. One of the best ways to research colleges, though, is by type of degree. When you initially enter college, you’ll likely be looking for an undergraduate degree program, so looking for rankings of just undergraduate options is a great way to narrow down your research. A number of organizations and publications rank undergraduate universities.

US News Rankings

One of the most popular lists is the one compiled by US News. This list has been compiled since the mid-1980s, and they have a number of categories, including one for just undergraduate schools. You can also search by national universities, liberal arts colleges, specialty schools, and more. They rank schools based on a number of factors including peer rating, class size, acceptance rate, average spending per student, standardized test scores of students, alumni donations, faculty salaries, and number of students who graduate within six years.

AUAP Rankings

If you’re an international student, the American Universities Admission Program (AUAP) rankings can help you determine which college in the United States is best for you. Some of the characteristics used to rank schools include selectivity, quality of education, and mean test scores. In addition, a panel of experts evaluates each school to give them a world image rank. They have not only a ranking for general undergraduate programs, but also rankings for women’s colleges, business programs, honor programs, scientific schools, and more.

OEDb Rankings

Online Education Database (OEDb) ranks a specific type of school – those available online. This website has not only a list of the best distance learning programs, but also full reviews of each school. There are over 85 colleges, many with multiple programs, represented in this database, which ranks schools based on factors such as number of students who graduate within six years, student-to-faculty ratio, links to the school from other online colleges, and more.

Of course, a number of other organizations and publications ranking undergraduate programs as well, and even more rank undergraduate programs alongside schools that offer other degrees. Use the three resources listed above as a start, and then branch out to learn more about the schools you’re considering through lists like those compiled by Times Higher Education, The Princeton Review, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, and more. You can even search by specific program types with lists such as the one compiled by BusinessWeek. Whatever resources you use, make sure that the college rankings you consider are just the start to your research. When trying to pick an undergraduate program, you should also talk to professors and students, visit the campus if at all possible, and more before you make your final decision. The school at the top of any list may not necessarily be the perfect school for you.

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