<p>Let’s state some publicly available “facts” then:</p>
<ol>
<li>2012 USNEWS Undergraduate Engineering Ranking (in my view, the least academically relevant ranking, hence just used as a reference point):</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li><p>Tulane is NOT ranked among the top 76 engineering schools which award doctorate degrees (2012);</p></li>
<li><p>RIP is ranked 27th (2012).</p></li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li>2013 USNEWS Graduate Engineering/CS Ranking (the same disclaimer applies):</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li><p>Tulane: 105 overall in engineering; 47 in biomedical engineering; 74 in chemical engineering; not ranked in computer science.</p></li>
<li><p>RPI: 38 overall in engineering; 39 in biomedical engineering; 22 in chemical engineering; (most other RPI engineering programs ranked in the 20-30); 47 in computer science)</p></li>
</ul>
<ol>
<li>2010 NRC Doctorate Program Ranking (now, we are getting serious):</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li><p>Tulane: NOT ranked in computer science; BME: 68-72 in s-ranking (survey-based, out of 74 programs), 26-53 in r-ranking (regression-based); ChemE: 32-72 in s-ranking, 50-74 in r-ranking. </p></li>
<li><p>RPI: Computer Science: 46-82 in s-ranking, 52-93 in s-ranking; BME: 34-60 in s-ranking, 42-64 in r-ranking; ChemE: 12-39 in s-ranking, 23-42 in r-ranking; various rankings in other engineering fields. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>[NRC</a> Rankings Overview: Computer Sciences - Faculty - The Chronicle of Higher Education](<a href=“NRC Rankings Overview: Computer Sciences”>NRC Rankings Overview: Computer Sciences)</p>
<ol>
<li>Even before Katrina, for perspective only, Tulane’s engineering/CS programs were not highly ranked by NRC. In the previous NRC exercise (1995?), when Tulane had a full engineering/cs offerings, its rankings were ChemE (78/93), Civil (83/86), Electrical (126/126), Mechanical (88/110), and CS (101/107). </li>
</ol>
<p>[NRC</a> Rankings in Each of 41 Areas](<a href=“NRC Rankings in Each of 41 Areas”>NRC Rankings in Each of 41 Areas)</p>
<p>Even Tulane acknowledges on its website, regarding the previous NRC ranking, that "Tulane was in the middle of the comparison group in the number of programs ranked, but it had the largest number (24) and highest percentage of programs (100%) ranked in the third and fourth quartiles. </p>
<p>[Tulane</a> University - Research & Graduate Education](<a href=“http://tulane.edu/strategicplanning/graduate_education.cfm#national]Tulane”>http://tulane.edu/strategicplanning/graduate_education.cfm#national)</p>
<p>Anyone wants more facts?</p>
<p>(I do not have any personal or professional relationship with either RPI or Tulane.)</p>