<p>I too am not a fan of Gourman, no published methodology (other than broadbrush), etc, but I also have no huge problem when collegehelp trots it out when someone asks about undergrad department rankings, so long as they are accompanied with the appropriate caveats. </p>
<p>There have been a few times when there have been particular subjects that not every school has, and in those cases the departments that I’ve read about as being “good” in those areas have also been high on Gourman’s ranking of them. So at least it might be one more source for someone seeking such information to look at. Obviously I would not claim it is “accurate”, the only 'accurate" ranking would be one I performed based on my own criteria. Some rankings involve weightings that I do not subscribe to, in Gourman’s case who knows what he’s doing.</p>
<p>But at least I think (but certainly cannot prove, just a matter of faith if you will) some reasonably smart guy with some insight has made some attempt to put various data items together to come up with something he thinks is reasonable, based on his criteria. I think (but cannot verify) that he has some sort of methodology he’s using, I don’t think he is coming out with these (ridiculously) exact number rankings by using a random number generator. Since some results I’ve noticed, particularly in the less-generic fileds, have made some sense.</p>
<p>“Accuracy” cannot be claimed, and clearly the guy seems to have personal weighting preferences that many do not subscribe to. It seems to me as if he puts great weight on things like highly regarded faculty, # faculty and # courses offered in a subject as pertinent to undergrad education in a particular field. And gives less weight to things like academic capabilities of one’s fellow students and class sizes, which others (but not necessarily everyone) may believe are more important. But that’s just my guess, because as has been noted who really knows what he’s doing. </p>
<p>Rugg’s also gets trotted out, and this is not really a ranking at all. It purportedly is a survey of students at a school about which departments are considered strong at that school. There is no data on how the surveys are done, their level of statistical significance, how frequently they are done. And there is no norming between schools.
So one has to take this for what it’s worth and not more. But I do think it’s something one can look at. </p>
<p>There really isn’t much out there. It’s true much of what makes for a good undergrad department is elusive to quantify, or hasn’t been quantified by anyone, and people may also have different opinions about it.</p>
<p>But if someone is asking about strength of departments, these are about all that’s out there, so if someone wants to throw them out, with appropriate caveats, I for one have no problem. They <em>are</em> out there, after all.</p>
<p>Smart people can decide for themselves how much, if any, weight to give these and other tidbits of information. And they all may not agree.</p>