Forbes poll of America's best colleges

[bgprest]

Iowa hit the list at #315

I-State hit just behind UNI, at 502 and UNI at 501

...not too impressive for us...

[stateofmind]

Do you have a link? What was the grading criteria? I need to be able to come up with excuses for my degree since annual reviews are coming this month.

[cymonat]

List:
America's Best Colleges - Forbes.com

Criteria:
http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/01/bes...s-10-ccap.html

[GeronimusClone]

I think our state's problem with massive student loan debt hurts us with this criteria. Also, Iowa will rank higher with the law and medical schools.
Sounds like if you don't openly pimp ratemyprofessor.com or Myplan.com on your campus you won't rank well.

[edr247]

I'm taking this with a grain of salt...

While it's probably better than the US News college rankings, in that they take into account student's view points, doing so via website opinions and comments doesn't seem like a great idea, as you're limiting yourself to those students opinionated enough to go on there and post something.

Taking into account things like student loans and graduation rates I think are fair criteria.

[cyclone13]

I'm taking this with a grain of salt...

While it's probably better than the US News college rankings, in that they take into account student's view points, doing so via website opinions and comments doesn't seem like a great idea, as you're limiting yourself to those students opinionated enough to go on there and post something.

Taking into account things like student loans and graduation rates I think are fair criteria.

+1

[Judoka]

Criteria:
Methodology - Forbes.com[/QUOTE]

Their methodology seems to benefit a small liberal arts school over a large reseach institution.

For example using 4 year graduation rate was 1/6th of the ranking- I was in the entering class of 2002 (which seems to be their base year) and took 5 years to graduate, so I am counting against us here - but that 5 years was because I took 2 minors and an internship. In engineering 5 years is not considered out of the norm at all if you take a semester or two to intern or co-op. Also we have programs like Architecture that take 5 years even in the best of circumstances. This is going to kill any engineering school but cause any small liberal arts school to shoot up the rankings. 5 or 6 year graduation rates would be far more accurate representations.

10% of the ranking was on who was in "Who's Who in America"? So ten percent was based off of a book that you pay to get yourself listed in!

27.5% was off of "Student satisfaction rates", but only 5% was on Freshman-Sophomore retention, the rest was on "Rate-my-Proffesor" rankings? That sure seems totally un-biased, yep.

Student debt? Can't argue there, ISU students tend to leave with a lot of debt. We deserve to take a hit there.



Also, according to thier website, zero percent of admitted females actually enroll at ISU:

Applications Number of Applicants Percent Admitted Percent Admitted Who Enrolled
Total 11,0588 9.0% 44.0%
Male 5,8158 8.0% 85.0%
Female 5,2439 0.0% 0.0%

[jsmith86]

Being as how they also use student evaluations from myplan.com for 5% and the site can't even get our logo right:

Iowa State University :: General

I'm inclined to believe that their ratings are about as authoritative as if you asked the crazy guy who walks around at night and gets cans from the waste bins on campus where to go to college

[rworkman83]

Coe at #225! Alright!

[weR138]

My program at ISU is respected and recognized nationally (and ranked highly). It prepared me well and has afforded me the chance to make a good living. I love the campus and the Cyclones so I couldn't give a flaming pile of dog**** what Forbes says.

[Marc936]

America's Best Colleges Page 6 of 25 - Forbes.com

university of iowa is at 315


edit: nvm didn't see this post

[loki8838]

This is the same publication that a few years ago, ranked Kevin McHale as the best general manager in all of the 4 major sports.

Credibility = Zero

[hawkeyeh8r]

17.5% from ratemyprofessor.com....that seems a little high since most students go on their to rip on teachers more than write about the good ones.

[Royalclone]

Surprise! Grinnell is the highest ranked college in the state. The cost of the school pretty much as to be inthe upper $40's or higher to make the top 40.

[LindenCy]

This is the same publication that a few years ago, ranked Kevin McHale as the best general manager in all of the 4 major sports.

Credibility = Zero

That is pretty funny.

17.5% from ratemyprofessor.com....that seems a little high since most students go on their to rip on teachers more than write about the good ones.

Quoted for truth.