Two universities in Colorado made the US News Top 100 annual University Rankings, released yesterday. For the second year in a row, the engineering-focused Colorado School of Mines is the highest-ranked Colorado university at 76th and one of the nation’s Best Public Schools at #36. The University of Colorado Boulder moved from #105 to #98 to break into the Top 100. DU, however, trailed both at #121, moving up two places.
Of the 434 Best Universities ranked, the No. 1 college in the U.S. is Princeton, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard. After #109 University of Texas – Dallas, DU joins a large group of ten schools at #121 – The University of Vermont, University of South Carolina, University of Central Florida, University of Albany (SUNY), Iowa State University S&T, Elon University, CUNY City College, Creighton University, Chapman University, and Arizona State. A slight improvement next year in scoring could move Denver up by double digits.
US News applies 17 scoring metrics (table below) to force rank universities. Generally, the scoring remained relatively unchanged from last year with a few tweaks. For example, even though schools are no longer required to report test scores, schools that submitted test scores (SAT/ACT) mostly improved in their overall rank. The new scoring system also focuses on Social Mobility by up-weighting Pell Grant student graduation to align with the weights in other US News ranking categories.
For a private university like DU which is highly dependent on tuition for operations, this was likely a challenging metric. The Denver Difference recently launched by DU is an effort to raise funds for needs-based students and intends to address this metric. Another interesting metric that was slightly tweaked measured college graduate federal loan recipients’ earnings versus a typical high school graduate after five years to assess the value of a college degree.
With tuition over $61,000, surprisingly, the University was ranked #75 as a Best Value. Denver also scored well as Best for Veterans (#79) and Best Undergraduate Teaching (#45). A disappointing result was Engineering for Undergraduates, a recent focus for DU, at #168. Interestingly, DU’s Daniels School of Business had no programs in the Top 100. DU’s acceptance rate stands at 71%.
As recently as 2020, DU jumped 17 places to rank 80th among national universities but has been sliding back in the rankings until yesterday’s move from #123 to #121. Many of the ranking metrics may be viewed as arbitrary but US News rankings are a meaningful measure to many parents and students as it is a quick and easy glance at the age-old “value proposition” that colleges and universities have always grappled with. DU would clearly like to regain its position in the Top 100 but it will take time, effort, and perhaps most importantly, continued targeted investment to achieve that goal.
A 40-place rankings fall since 2020 is concerning, folks. I know rankings may not mean much to many of you, but among private school consideration sets, #121 is a very dangerous spot to be in…
First, DU needs to get back into the top 100 at least. Time to look at all the USNWR metrics and develop internal task forces of those who are responsible to raise the DU score on those metrics. Empower and incent them for good results.
Seems to me that the biggest metric is the 20% peer assessment metric – what others think of us. This has to change. Many of those voting in that peer assessment have likely never been to DU before and/or don’t know our school as well as they know the schools in their own regions.
Here’s a five point plan how to raise that peer score:
1) Buy prestige. Make some splashy academic hires from higher-ranking schools. Show the academy that DU is building a higher level of academic thought leadership and is willing to invest serious money into deans and top faculty. And then give these hotshots the resources to hire other top faculty to build stronger departments.
2) Develop an all-out blitz of R-I level research projects, journal articles and press coverage that draws respect from academic deans and reputation leaders around the country. Invest in educational brand-building as never before. Targeted digital, Chronicle of Higher Education, etc. to raise visibility and engagement among those who matter.
3) Fly-in deans from other schools for a signature conference on a key subjects that are on their minds and showcase DU top faculty projects and leaders while they are here in Denver. One they see and experience our campus, their minds will change,
4) Leverage the “#1 in student happiness “ranking from Princeton Review this year. Once the New York Times thinks DU is a “hot school” it will help drive the right eyeballs to see DU in a new light.
5) Bring in more high profile thought leaders to campus to lecture and engage. DU needs to be seen as a hothouse of educational excellence.
Great list Swami. Hard to disagree with any of your points.