In higher education, college and university rankings are determined by any combination of factors. Rankings can be based on subjectively perceived "quality," on some combination of empirical statistics, or on surveys of educators, scholars, students, prospective students, or others. Rankings are often consulted by prospective students and their
parents in the university and college admissions process.
The US
News and
World Report is the most influential ranking in the US. Schools are
split into
four tiers, with the best being first, and then schools are ranked within each of tier. The first tier is reserved for only the
top 50 schools and any college ranked below 50 but above the third tier is part of the second tier. The fourth tier is reserved for the bottom of the barrel colleges and universities.