U.S. News & World Report released its annual college rankings Tuesday with Princeton, Harvard and Yale topping the charts. This year, however, rankings reflected a change in formula that places a larger emphasis on graduation rates.
As per the new formula, Penn State and small liberal arts colleges in California with high graduation rates all rose in the ranks.
The new U.S. News methodology puts a larger weight on graduation-related data accounting for 30% of the rankings, 12.5% of the formula now focuses on student selectivity (e.g. class rank and standardized test scores) down from 15% last year. School reputation among peers and faculty resources also play key factors in the ranking process.
Ultimately, the new changes to the formula made little impact on the top ranked colleges.
Obama signing the bipartisan student loan bill into law also means that students have a better chance of affording a full college education.
For the full U.S. News & World Report rankings click here.
Traci Oshiro