<p>PG, there are certainly metrics that an individual family or student can look at when making a college decision; but an intelligent decision requires figuring out what metrics are important to you, and why. To say that you are going to pick USNWR 20 over USNWR 50 simply because 20 means it’s a “better” school is ridiculous - because it may not be better ** for you**. </p>
<p>The only validity of USNWR is in measuring national prestige, because that is what the ranking measures (and what it determines - it’s circular). Even that is bogus from the standpoint of an individual who is likely to spend their life in one geographical area. UC Davis may be prestigious in California, but to those of us in the Midwest, it’s less well known than UW Lacrosse or UIC or Michigan Tech. And when you get to LACs, it’s even more meaningless. </p>
<p>These people on CC who try to end a discussion with “A is better than B because USNWR says so” are fooling only themselves and a few gullible others.</p>