Do university rankings matter?

Question

Do university rankings actually matter when choosing a university? Whether it be cheap or too expensive, is there a worse education? Do employers look at the university you finished and pick the person who finished the one with the better ranking? Is it ok if I go to a university that has a lower ranking that wasn't even in the top 50 in the USA? Please help.

Answer 1

As a university professor at one of the top 15 schools in the nation, I have to say that your choice of schools MAY matter a great deal, depending on what you want to do after you get your degree. Most employers won't care too much where your degree is from, just as long as you have a degree of some sort from an ACCREDITED college or university. But a lot of employers won't even talk with you if your degree is from an online school since a great many of these programs aren't accredited. However, if you want to get into certain professions (medicine, law, engineering, architecture, social work, teaching at a college or university, etc.), your choice of schools will probably be a lot more important. As I said, it depends on what you want to do with your life, and where you plan on working. The more prestigious the position you'll be seeking and the higher your income is likely to be, the more a degree from first rate school will help you get your foot in the door.

Answer 2

For some employers (not all), the ranking of your university matters very much, and they will not hire you if you did not attend a uni ranked above X (top 10, top 15, top 50, etc.) Some also pay attention to how your uni ranks/its reputation for a specific major - and that's independent of where the uni ranks as a whole.



In addition, if your uni is one of the strongest in your state, or region; but isn't one of the top in the US, then some "education sensitive" employers will note that.





But most employers don't care. And if you go to a lower ranked uni, there's a lot you can do to turn that experience into a "top tier" experience - take honors classes, do independent studies, take on leadership roles, do internships, get involved in a professor's research, do a student exchange - it's all there for you, if you're interested.

Answer 3

University ranking certainly plays its part on decisions by students and employers a-like but it won't be the only reason why you found or not a job. As many other factors university ranking is one who might help you to differentiate yourself. So if you have experience or if you show to employers that you are a unique candidate because of your personal skill the school might not necessarily play a big role in your hiring procedure.

Maybe we can say that ranking matter if you want to earn an MBA! I will say that MBA is mostly done to increase salary, change a career and networking... (Interesting resources about MBA http://www.gradschools.com/search-programs/mba) so the purpose of study is different.

Don't worry about the ranking but be sure that you study something that you really enjoy and motivate you !

Answer 4

Let me put it this way. If you have a Harvard, Yale, Stanford or Brown University degree, you will have no trouble finding a good job somewhere after graduation.



Yes, it does make a difference.



You can get a good education at many schools, but the top schools are worth considering, especially since they usually have fat endowments and can award scholarships and grants to deserving applicants. Sometimes you can go to a top school for less than the cost of attending a state university.

Answer 5

University rankings will not matter one bit with your ability to get a job UNLESS you go to a private, Ivy League School such as Harvard, Yale, Johns Hopkins, Princeton, etc., but the cost is outrageous. Public institutions do not matter much when it comes to your resume, but just make sure which ever college you attend is accredited properly.

Answer 6

There's a big difference between Berkeley and Arkansas. There's not a big difference between Arkansas and Alabama. Large differences in rankings matter. Small ones do not.

Answer 7

It does make a difference but it depends on each employer. Obviously, bigger companies would prefer graduates from prestigious schools. In relation to school ranking, these are the top 1000 or so schools in the U.S.: http://bitly.com/1bA0xMm.