These rankings are even more meaningless than others. The ranking is 100% based on what administrators are saying about the programs, rather than based on any actual data regarding the number of projects, the creativity of projects, how easy it is for a student to do a project etc. It’s just a bunch of university administrators patting their buddies on the back.
They asked the opinions of “College presidents, provosts and admissions deans”. They did not ask the opinions of the deans of students, of the deans of colleges, nor did they ask the faculty who mentor the students. No, they asked the people who have the least knowledge and understanding of undergraduate research.
It is shocking that the good people at USNews seem to not understand what “College presidents, provosts and admissions deans” actually do. Not a single one has, in their job description, anything to do with the programs about which USNews takes their opinions as facts.
So these rankings can be tossed in the trash.
My personal experience - my daughter at Midd has done an internship with an international nonprofit, has worked in a lab on campus, and for two summers she interned at one of the top labs in her field.
PS. I don’t trust editors who do not use the Oxford Comma.