US News’ top colleges for 2012 and the winner for this year is ….Princeton!
US News’ top colleges for 2012 DRUMROLL . . .
Though college sticker prices continue to skyrocket, a new study suggests the price of admission is still worth it.
Princeton University tied Harvard University as the top-ranked “National University” in U.S. News & World Report’s 2012 rankings of best colleges. Last year, Harvard stood alone as the best ranked National University, a category that encompasses large, research-oriented schools.
No changes took place at the very top of the rankings of “National Liberal Arts Colleges” –schools that emphasize undergraduate education and award at least half of their degrees in liberal arts fields — as Williams College once again edged Amherst College for the highest rank. (View the 2012 rankings of National Universities and National Liberal Arts Colleges.)
Though college sticker prices continue to skyrocket, and it will now cost some students more than $200,000 to attain a degree at the aforementioned schools and others ranked by U.S. News, data indicate that the value of a college degree hasn’t waned. A recent report by the Georgetown University Center for Education and Workforce indicates that those with bachelor’s degrees earn 75% more over their lifetimes than those who only have high school diplomas. (Are you saving enough for college? Try MSN Money’s calculator.)
While the national unemployment rate topped out at 9.8% in 2010, it was 5.4% among those with bachelor’s degrees in the same year. Plus, a college or university doesn’t need to cost six figures to provide a solid education; U.S. News highlights some of these schools in lists such as the best up-and-coming schools, the best schools for B students, and schools that provide the best value, to name a few.
How worthwhile are college rankings?
There was little change among the top 20 ranked National Universities, though the University of Chicago jumped four spots, from a tie for ninth last year to a tie for fifth this year. Among the biggest movers in the top 50 are the University of Miami, which jumped nine spots from a tie for 47th to a tie for 38th, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which dropped from a tie for 41st to a tie for 50th this year.
When job listings specify a top-tier university, they mean at least in the top 100 of the nation under the national ranking system. Even better if ranked in the top 50! More and more California State Universities are ranking very high on the list! I wonder why??