Our Ranking Philosophy

Focus on Outcomes

At College Factual, we believe that the best college rankings should focus on outcomes - what happens to students after they graduate. While factors like admissions rates, test scores, and faculty credentials are important, they don’t tell the whole story about a college’s effectiveness.

Our rankings methodology emphasizes:

• Graduation Rates: The percentage of students who complete their degree program
• Post-Graduation Success: Employment rates, graduate school acceptance, and career outcomes
• Student Satisfaction: Surveys and feedback from current students and alumni
• Value for Money: Cost relative to outcomes and financial aid availability
• Program-Specific Performance: Rankings by major and field of study

Data-Driven Approach

We use a comprehensive dataset from multiple sources to create our rankings:

• Federal government databases
• College-reported statistics
• Student surveys and feedback
• Alumni outcomes data
• Industry employment data

This data is carefully analyzed and weighted to create meaningful rankings that help students make informed decisions.

Transparency

We believe in being transparent about our methodology. Each ranking includes:

• Detailed explanation of factors considered
• Weighting of different components
• Data sources used
• Limitations and caveats

This transparency helps students understand how to interpret our rankings and make the best use of them in their college search.

Continuous Improvement

Our ranking methodology is regularly reviewed and updated to:

• Incorporate new data sources
• Adjust weights based on research
• Add new outcome measures
• Respond to student feedback

We’re committed to providing the most accurate and useful rankings possible to help students make better college decisions.

Related Resources

• Rankings Methodologies
• College Rankings
• Program Rankings