Never did pay much attention the The US News and World reports, its just a educational mafia.

^^ posted too soon:

...and I will consider things like how colleges do educating poorer students (even though we are not poor ourselves).

I think it depends on what matters to you.

For example, if you are completely turned off by colleges that specialize in educating rich kids, like Cal Tech, which only has a paltry 9% of its students qualifying for Pell Grants, then rankings like Washington Monthly's might be of interest to you.

For me, my kids' college educations will be the largest single purchase I make in my life, outside of my house. If I can, I intend to spend that money wisely AND socially responsibly. That doesn't mean I'd necessarily choose NC State over Cornell, but it does mean I will place little weight on, e.g., acceptance rates (which are so manipulated by colleges as to be meaningless).

Anonymous wrote:These rankings are based on variables that are (arguably) much more meaningful. The schools stack up very differently.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/toc_2013.php

I love my alma mater (NC State), but I would really have a hard time ranking it above Cal Tech or Cornell.

Wishful thinking. Schools ignore the US News rankings at their own peril.

The release of the 2014 rankings is widely reported today for a reason. Other rankings? Not so much.

These rankings are based on variables that are (arguably) much more meaningful. The schools stack up very differently.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/toc_2013.php

Read this!
"Your Annual Reminder to Ignore the U.S. News & World Report College Rankings"

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/09/your-annual-reminder-to-ignore-the-us-news-world-report-college-rankings/279103/