University stays atop U.S. News rankings

For the eighth consecutive year, Princeton is first in U.S. News and World Report's college rankings.

This is the eighth straight year the University has been atop the rankings and the second in a row that it has held the position alone, with Harvard at number two and Yale third. Rankings are determined using a formula that takes into account retention and graduation rates, class sizes, average SAT scores, and alumni giving rates, among other factors.

One part of the rankings formula that has garnered significant media and institutional attention in recent months is the peer review ranking, which is based on the perceptions that college and university presidents have of other institutions. The presidents of dozens of liberal arts colleges in the Annapolis Group have signed onto a statement agreeing to abstain from providing peer rankings and from promoting their respective institutions' rankings in promotional material.

In 2004, Dean of the College Nancy Malkiel told the 'Prince' she "[has] always believed that the U.S. News rankings are of very limited value," though the University has stopped short of shunning the rankings or refusing to participate.

Full rankings will be posted online after midnight and published in the Aug. 27 issue of the magazine, available on newsstands on Monday.