How to Compare Graduate School Rankings

By eHow Education Editor

Rate: (0 Ratings)

Choosing a graduate school can be a stressful and confusing process for any student. By comparing graduate schools and their rankings a student can choose which one fits her needs best. There are a few key factors to take into consideration when comparing graduate school rankings. Knowing these key factors can help narrow down the search to a smaller, more manageable field of schools.

Flag Article

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Step1

Consider your priorities. Graduate schools are diverse in their specialties, and you should compare graduate school rankings with particular specialties and notable programs in mind. For instance, if you want to earn a graduate degree in fine arts, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology might not be the best choice for you. Instead, use various rankings to explore schools that have notable programs in your subject area. Sometimes the names that come up in the rankings are schools you might not have originally considered.

Step2

Explore the ranking criteria. Publications that rank graduate schools use different criteria. Some look closely at the student to faculty ratio, others focus largely on student contentment while still others might look closely at employment success after graduation. When you compare graduate schools keep in mind which criteria are important to you and which criteria you consider most revealing about a graduate school's overall quality.

Step3

Choose your sources carefully. Many publishing bodies are quick to rank graduate schools. When you compare, keep in mind the publication out of which you cull your information. If you are interested in a specific field of study, search for rankings out of a particularly reputable publication from your field. For instance, if you are interested in a Library Science degree, check to see if the American Library Association offers a list of outstanding graduate programs.

Step4

Investigate multiple tiers. In some rankings lists, colleges and universities are sorted into tiers based on their overall quality according to the ranking criteria. This tier system can be somewhat misleading. For instance, if a second- or third-tier university has a fantastic English program, it might appear low on an overall ranking list but be a standout in the English niche. This tendency is another reason to compare specific rankings as opposed to overall rankings.

Step5

Consider reputation and cost. In other words, if you don't need to go to Harvard in order to reach your educational and professional goals, browse the rankings accordingly. Big name "Research 1" universities will always show up at the top of any set of national rankings. However, if your long term goals, monetary resources or educational background don't match up with those schools, browse different rankings. Consider rankings of smaller institutions or more affordable and accessible ones.