The 2020 U.S. News college rankings named Boston College the No. 37 best national university, a one-spot improvement from last year’s placement.
US News adjusted its methodology last year, choosing to base its rankings on faculty resources, expert opinions, financial resources, student excellence, alumni giving, and outcomes. Outcomes—which accounts for the social mobility of graduates, graduation and retention rates, and graduation rate performance, which is a comparison of the actual graduation rate compared to a prediction made by US News—now accounts for 35 percent of the overall score.
The overall score came from a combination of factors, all of which were weighted to make up 100 percent of the overall score. Graduation and retention rates made up 22 percent of the overall score, while undergraduate academic reputation and faculty resources each accounted for 20 percent. Selectivity rates and financial resources per student each accounted for 10 percent. Graduation rate performance made up 8 percent of the score, with social mobility and alumni giving each making up 5 percent of the score.
A University release made note of BC’s improvements in both peer assessment and graduation and retention rate scores, but also said that its ranking was negatively negatively effected by a recent change in methodology that emphasized the outcomes of Pell Grant recipients. After BC fell from No. 32 to No. 38 last year, the University released a statement arguing that emphasizing Pell Grant recipients would benefit larger state schools.
BC generally placed behind rival institutions: University of Notre Dame was ranked at No. 15; Georgetown at No. 24; and Tufts at No. 29. BC beat out Boston University and Northeastern, who were both placed at No. 40.
The University earned its highest ranking at No. 7 for its “Commitment to Undergraduate Teaching,” earned the No. 8 spot for “Service Learning,” and the No. 23 distinction for its “Study Abroad Programs.” It was also ranked as the No. 34 “Best Value College.”
Notably, the Carroll School of Management was rated the 22nd best undergraduate business program in the country, while the finance department was given the No. 11 ranking, accounting earned the No. 12 spot, management ranked No. 13, and marketing came in at No. 26.
Featured Image by Jonathan Yee/Heights Editor
