Status-watchers rest assured: for the fifth straight year, Princeton tops U.S. News and World Report's list of America's best colleges.
The annual rankings, released Aug. 19, have Princeton and Harvard University sharing the number one spot out of 248 national universities. Yale rounds out the top three.
"I have always believed that the U.S. News rankings are of very limited value," Dean of the College Nancy Malkiel said in an email response to a reporter's query.
"On the other hand, if they insist on ranking universities and colleges, it is certainly gratifying to see Princeton ranked at the top, a ranking that matches, I think, the quality of the undergraduate educational experience we provide."
An announcement of the top-spot ranking was quickly added to the Princeton homepage.
The magazine also reported that Princeton has the highest alumni giving rating at 61 percent. Princeton earned the second highest selectivity score, based on standardized tests, high school class rankings and acceptance rates.
The magazine's release renewed debate over whether the rankings have value.
Fifteen liberal arts college presidents issued a statement calling the usefulness of the rankings into question.
Several of the colleges, including St. John's College in Annapolis, Md., and Santa Fe, N.M., and Reed College in Portland, Ore., refused to take part in the survey.
"Rankings perpetuate a false impression that a good education can be numerically quantified," said St. John's College President Christopher Nelson. "A college's distinctiveness is lost in this system."
Richard Folkers, media relations director at U.S. News, brushed aside the criticisms, saying in an email they are "nothing new."
Students acknowledged the list's influence but expressed concern over how it is interpreted.
Daniel Wickner '07 argued that applicants shouldn't make decisions based on small differences between scores.
"It's difficult to rank schools in such a precise order," he said. "Each of the top 25 colleges could be considered top five because they are all so good."
Seth Blumberg '08 said the list is "divisive" and "fosters a sense of elitism."
"The truth is that a student's college experience depends less on where he goes, and much more on what he does there," he said.
The overall rankings changed little from last year, when Princeton and Harvard were also tied for number one.
Read More
Economics professor Kate Ho passes away after long battle with cancer
Devon RudolphProfessor Kate Ho made seminal contributions to the economics of modeling competition in the healthcare sector and taught well-loved courses in industrial organization.
Professor Kate Ho made seminal contributions to the economics of modeling competition in the healthcare sector and taught well-loved courses in industrial organization.
Pedestrian left in critical condition after traffic collision on Nassau Street
Luke GrippoThe pedestrian was struck by a westbound 2015 Ford Explorer around 11:32 p.m. The driver was identified in the press release as a 39-year-old Princeton resident who cooperated with officers upon their arrival.
The pedestrian was struck by a westbound 2015 Ford Explorer around 11:32 p.m. The driver was identified in the press release as a 39-year-old Princeton resident who cooperated with officers upon their arrival.
Senior class jacket abruptly changed following accusations of AI design
Vitus LarrieuFor more than a century, Princeton seniors have donned “beer jackets” to protect their clothes during Reunions and commencement celebrations, typically with elaborate designs chosen by a class-wide contest. Now, with a selection process marred by accusations of generative AI use, the Class of 2026 may have written its own spot in Princeton history.
For more than a century, Princeton seniors have donned “beer jackets” to protect their clothes during Reunions and commencement celebrations, typically with elaborate designs chosen by a class-wide contest. Now, with a selection process marred by accusations of generative AI use, the Class of 2026 may have written its own spot in Princeton history.