@WolfBlood Yes, it is a contradiction. @UWfromCA is precisely right. Review the methodology.
Even before deep diving into the methodology, perhaps, you can cut the number of ranking surveys to analyze, by asking yourself, does the ranking even meet the eyeball test?
THE (Times Higher Education) World University Rankings Arizona State #126, University of Arizona #161 vs Wake Forest #251-#300 and William & Mary #251-300, or here’s another set:
THE World Rankings Minnesota #56, UBC #34, UW #25 vs Vanderbilt #105, Virginia #113, Georgetown #123.
Would you trust that?
A SUPPLY/DEMAND MARKET DOESN’T LIE. 11% acceptance rate vs 15% acceptance rate, no big deal.
What about #105 Vanderbilt has an 11% acceptance rate vs neighboring #126 Arizona State has an 83% acceptance rate?
I have reviewed the THE World University Rankings methodology and that certainly didn’t change my mind after it failed the eyeball test miserably.
If I were king, THE World Rankings would not be allowed to mislead the world’s youth with this survey.
I think you will come to a different conclusion when you do the eyeball test with US News US National University Rankings or their National Liberal Arts Rankings.
Once, you have the shortlist of surveys that meet your eyeball test, delve into the methodology.
As far as your bottom-line question, looking at important criteria to me, UW is ranked about right at #56 +/- 5 in the U.S. News National Universities and UBC would be perhaps #60 +/- 5 amongst U.S. National Universities. This of course excludes 20+ national liberal arts colleges which are probably superior to both. You should probably consider other criteria since UW and UBC are in the same ballpark and rankings aren’t the be-all, end-all.
How do the schools rank in your Major from a survey whose methodology you agree with?
Do you plan to go to grad school? Dig into how many UW and UBC grads are accepted to your Top 5 grad schools over the past few years.
You may also consider the softer stuff, like where do I picture myself?