I couldn’t care less. Who knows why US News ranks the way they do? I’m guessing the four-year graduation rate is at least part of the issue.
As far as what guidance/college counselors think, it doesn’t seem to be an issue. Once again, the incoming freshman class is the largest in UA history and their stats are excellent:
Talented students continue to select The University of Alabama as their school of choice as this fall brings another record year for enrollment along with increasingly impressive credentials. For fall 2017, UA’s enrollment reached 38,563 students, up more than 2 percent from last year’s record class of 37,665.
“We’re pleased to see our growth continue as we add another talented and bright class to our University family,” said UA President Stuart R. Bell. “With more students than ever before, it is clear that our exceptional academic programs and outstanding faculty continue to attract much-deserved attention from across the country.”
More than 40 percent of UA’s 7,407-member freshman class scored 30 or higher on the ACT and 38 percent were in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class. The entering class carries an average high school grade-point average of 3.72, with 34 percent having a high school GPA of 4.0 or higher.
https://www.ua.edu/news/2017/09/ua-continues-record-breaking-trend-in-enrollment-for-fall-2017/