Unranked Universities in the U.S.A. and Why You Should Consider Them
In recent years, many prestigious colleges and professional schools have decided to opt out of the U.S. News & World Report’s college ranking system. This trend has resulted in conversation across academia and the public, raising important questions about what truly defines academic quality and institutional success.
Why are Colleges opting out of Rankings
1. Flawed Methodologies
Many universities argue that the U.S. News rankings rely on narrow and sometimes outdated metrics that fail to capture the full picture of a school’s strengths.
“The rankings rely on flawed survey techniques and questionable weights that do not adequately reflect the education students receive,” said Harvard Medical School Dean George Daley, when the school withdrew in 2023. (Harvard Gazette)
2. A “Race to the Top” Culture
Schools often feel pressured to prioritize metrics that boost rankings rather than advance genuine educational goals—such as hiring based on reputation, inflating selectivity, or over-investing in amenities.
“Rankings have created a perverse incentive structure in higher education,” said Yale Law School Dean Heather Gerken. (Yale Law News)
3. Misalignment With Institutional Mission
For liberal arts colleges and mission-driven institutions, standardized rankings don’t capture elements such as community engagement, student transformation, or access and equity.
“We believe college rankings… reduce the rich tapestry of American higher education to a one-size-fits-all metric,” said Reed College President Audrey Bilger, whose institution opted out decades ago and continues to remain absent. (Reed Magazine)
Colleges and Schools That Have Opted Out
A variety of institutions—including top law schools, medical schools, and liberal arts colleges—have withdrawn from the U.S. News rankings. Here’s a list of some:
🔹 Liberal Arts and Undergraduate Institutions
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Reed College
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Deep Springs College
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Bard College
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Colorado College
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Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
🔹 Law Schools
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Yale Law School
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Harvard Law School
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Stanford Law School
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Columbia Law School
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University of California (Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles) Law Schools
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Georgetown Law School
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University of Virginia Law School
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Penn State Law & Dickinson Law
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Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School
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Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School
🔹 Medical Schools
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Harvard Medical School
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Stanford School of Medicine
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University of Michigan Medical School
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Weill Cornell Medicine
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Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
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Duke University School of Medicine
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UW School of Medicine
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Pritzker School of Medicine (University of Chicago)
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Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
What Are the Alternatives?
Many of these institutions now focus on alternative metrics that better reflect their core values. These include:
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Student learning outcomes and post-graduate success
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Research productivity and academic innovation
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Community engagement and public service
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Access, affordability, and inclusion
Tools like the College Scorecard by the U.S. Department of Education and Parchment’s college rankings based on student choices have been cited as more student-centered alternatives.
Final Thoughts
As more institutions step away from traditional rankings, they are reshaping the landscape of higher education evaluation. This growing movement invites students and families to think more critically about what matters most in a college education: Is it reputation and prestige, or purpose and performance? “Colleges should be chosen based on values, fit, and academic goals—not rankings,” says Jon Boeckenstedt, Vice Provost at Oregon State University and a long-time critic of college rankings. (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
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